La versión en español está después de la versión en inglés.
IT’S BEEN MOSTLY CLOUDY ALL day. One of those rare days on the Costa del Sol where not a shadow is cast and there are no warm rays of sunshine for Dudo to soak up. Still, it’s 66°F/19°C, so people are out strolling and Dudo is curled up in his own warmth in the box on the terrace kitty condo. On a recent sunny day I managed to get some shots of the shadowy passersby.
I’ve learned that San Geraldo, being five years my senior, should be receiving his COVID vaccine between mid-March to mid-April. Being five years his junior (I just thought I’d remind him), I have to wait until after April 15.
The Kid Brother received two postcards from me last week. They were mailed a week apart more than 6 weeks ago. He told me, “I got two dogs… from you!” “On one postcard?” I asked. “Yeah. No. Yeah. Two postcards!” “Oh, so one dog on each postcard?” “No! Three dogs. Two dogs and one dog.” “It’s a dog-eat dog world,” I said for no apparent reason. “What are you talking about, you knucklehead?!?” was his response.
He was in a great mood. My mood today suits the weather. Thanks for sending your cards to The Kid. I wish the mail system weren’t currently such a mess. It’s been a long, slow year. And that reminds me, his birthday is 5 February. I’d better find a gift online to have delivered. I’m sure not going to try to ship anything from here. It wouldn’t have a shadow of a chance of arriving on time.
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HA ESTADO MAYORMENTE NUBLADO TODO el día. Uno de esos raros días en la Costa del Sol donde no se proyecta ni una sombra y no hay cálidos rayos de sol para que Dudo pueda empaparse. Aún así, hace 19 ° C / 66 ° F, por lo que la gente está paseando y Dudo está acurrucado en su propio calor en la caja del condominio de gatitos en la terraza. En un día soleado reciente logré tomar algunas fotos de los transeúntes sombríos.
Me enteré de que San Geraldo, que es cinco años mayor que yo, debería recibir su vacuna COVID entre mediados de marzo y mediados de abril. Yo, siendo cinco años menor que él (pensé que se lo recordaba) tengo que esperar hasta después del 15 de abril.
El Hermanito recibió dos postales mías la semana pasada. Fueron enviados por correo con una semana de diferencia hace más de 6 semanas. Me dijo: “¡Tengo dos perros … de ti!” “¿En una postal?” yo pregunté. “Si. No. Sí. ¡Dos postales!” “Oh, ¿un perro en cada postal?” “¡No! Tres perros. Dos perros y un perro”. “Es un mundo donde perros comen perros”, dije sin razón aparente [significa que las personas harán lo que sea necesario para tener éxito, incluso si eso significa dañar a los demás]. “¿De qué estás hablando, cabeza de chorlito?!?” fue su respuesta. Estaba de muy buen humor. Mi estado de ánimo hoy se adapta al clima.
Gracias por enviar tus tarjetas a El Hermanito. Ojalá el sistema de correo no fuera un desastre actualmente. Ha sido un año largo y lento. Y eso me recuerda, su cumpleaños es el 5 de febrero. Será mejor que encuentre un regalo en línea para entregarlo. Estoy seguro de que no intentaré enviar nada desde aquí. No tendría la menor posibilidad de llegar a tiempo.
Those shadow pics are pretty special….. again….. Thanks! I am on a blog read now.
Ron:
I do enjoy shooting and editing the shadows. Working on some more today.
Have you ever ordered from https://nuts.com/ ? I have never been disappointed, from dates to chocolate covered almonds. Once a month or so they have free shipping if you order $29, otherwise it is $59. I’m sure you’d find something your brother would love. And service is fast and regular shipping is not expensive.
Jacquie:
Thanks so much for this recommendation. I had checked them out when sending him a food care package but wanted more staples and meals. As a birthday gift it would be a great idea. Good to know you recommend them. Will check them out today. He loves nuts (hates chocolate).
Great shadow shots.
Yeah. Mail service still sucks here, especially on the East Coast. Will be interested to see how long it takes for KB to get his Cacti postcard. Thanks for sharing his b-day. Given the mail service, I’d better put his card in the mail tomorrow. Will try for a funny one.
Mary:
The mail has been so frustrating. First COVID, then the election illegalities, and back to COVID. And thanks, thanks, thanks!
I will send chuck a birthday card, one with a little bird on it. I guess he has not received my fish card yet.
and I LOVE your shadow pix; sometimes B&W film says more than color.
currently 28F here at 12:20p. brrrrrrr!
anne marie:
I THINK he’s telling me all he’s receiving. He saves every card, however, so I can do a review when I finally get to visit him! Keeping him honest. One thing I can tell you, we have not been below freezing in our time here! BRRRRR! This morning it’s 63 and headed up to 66 today.
Love the shadows. I will mail my card for his birthday . Great idea. I’m not far as the crow flies…but it may take long. I wonder if he even got the Christmas card? The mail has been worst then I have ever seen it.
Mistress Borghese:
He hasn’t TOLD me about the Christmas card. I’m taking him on his word, but there’s always the possibility he’s not telling me everything. I mentioned to Anne Marie that I plan to go through his collection when I finally do get to visit. Thank you, sweetheart!!!
I am glad your brother is in good spirits, hopefully in a few months you can visit him. Mom (78) gets the vaccine in April, hubby in July and I am up in the air, they have made some provision for those undergoing chemo but not clear when that is. They have started vaccinating in Canada but now it is slowed by Pfizer not delivering when they said they would
Cheapchick:
The news of delays has me concerned for my visit to New York late August. I have another friend undergoing chemo who’s waiting for word. Life up in the air!
Cool photos! So, SG robbed the cradle, did he?
Debra:
I remember during our first year together teasing him because he was over 30. He said, I’d be 30 someday, too. 30? I’m trying to remember it.
Great photos. J is 4.5 years older than I am, he is on the waiting list, no idea when my age group will come up (late spring early summer?)
David:
I read some years ago that the perfect relationships are those in which the partners are approximately 5 years apart in age. I know it wasn’t in Cosmopolitan but it may not have been anything more scientifically accurate.
I love the shadow pictures; so arty!
I, too, will send Kid Brother a birthday card, and with our mail system of late I’ll m ail it tomorrow.
Bob:
Thanks! But the mail? Aren’t you overdue for a trip to Brooklyn?
The shadow pics are wonderful!
Don’t know when we will qualify for our covid shots. I suspect the summer and because we are almost the same age (1 1/2 years apart) we will get the together……at least that’s the plan.
Jim:
The vaccine delays from the makers, and the shortfalls, make me concerned that I might not feel safe visiting Chuck late August. Oh well, we shall see.
The shadow photos always make me wonder about their people. Like that older couple – what are they striding toward so energetically, what are they thinking? A short story almost writes itself. That photo is the end of the story, or is it?
My brother-in-law just got his first vaccination and my sister will get hers in 2 weeks. They had to enter a lottery for the appointments.
Wilma:
A lottery? Where are they? Ours are only being offered through the national health. Whoever is registered will be contacted when it’s time. I can’t wait. I love taking the shadow shots. When I flip them, they suddenly become stories to me, too.
They live in Colorado. She said the actual process of getting the shot was very smooth. Appt at 9:45, shot at 9:50, then wait in the car for 15 minutes to be sure of no severe reaction.
Wilma:
Sounds great!
I am still trying to FIND some postcards to send your brother. As soon as I want some they are as scarce as TP on March time.
Urspo:
Don’t drive yourself nuts. It’s nice that you’ve thought of him. It IS fascinating however that things we’ve seen everywhere for ages are suddenly unavailable when we want them.
K. is ten years my senior. So he should be getting his shot in February. I’ll have to wait until April or so. Meanwhile, the government is thinking of ordering another lockdown soon.
Walt the Fourth:
At this point, I know a lot of people who would be grateful to be in a straightforward lockdown. Are we all exhausted yet?
I had my first vaccine on Saturday. Our small town ( Harpenden) seems very organised . We have 3 doctors’ surgeries and they are all using the old public halls. ( which are due to be pulled down as a new venue has been built) I went straight in, queued in the vestibule for a few minutes where my temperature was taken, and then inside to sit on a chair in the middle of the room carefully distanced from anyone else. About 10 minutes later I was called over to one of the 8 stations round the hall, and after a few questions I had my jab. Then a 15 minute wait in the small hall in case of a reaction and back home. 45 mins in all. Luckily the only ” problem” was a sore arm yesterday, but that has now gone. Apparently at least 3 weeks before it properly ” kicks in” but it is a start!!
Frances:
So glad yours went so well and with just a sore arm. That’s what I’ve been hearing from most. Your town sounds like they’re doing an exceptional job. I’m hoping for the same here.
Like SG, Dave is higher on the vaccine priority list than I am — but I think we’ll both be waiting for a while yet. Happy birthday to the kid brother!
Steve:
Thanks! I’m just hoping it all continues to go as intended. What a mess right now; just read an article titled “Grim outlook in UK is a warning for the world.” Argh!
The shadow photos are cool. I think the problem with U.S. mail was 45 putting Louis DeJoy in charge. He had a lot of necessay equipment removed–no doubt because Democrats tend to vote by mail. He was trying to keep those votes from being counted. He was stopped from removing more equipment, but I never heard that he was required to put what he had already removed back in place.
Love,
Janie
Janie:
The mail services around the world have been a mess during the pandemic, but things got even worse under Trump during the election cycle. Unbelievable what that idiot got away with.