La versión en español está después de la versión en inglés.
THE KID BROTHER COMPLAINED YESTERDAY about the heat. It was 96˚F/36˚C at the time. His apartment doesn’t have air conditioning. He received mail, but said he’ll show it to me when I’m there. I so hope nothing screws up my plans.
Covid is making a comeback here among the 20-somethings and others who haven’t been vaccinated (for whatever reason they haven’t been vaccinated). And hearing about the progress of the variants in the United States has made me nervous. I still haven’t had my second Astrazeneca jab. It’s scheduled for 25 July, but I’ve read the plan is to shorten that wait by about 10 days. I haven’t been contacted and I now can’t get through by phone to Public Health. Despite the heat, I need to stop sweating the small stuff.
Yesterday evening, I heard the kitchen door slam. I thought the wind had blown it closed because I had all the doors and windows open (there’s a small terrace off the kitchen for laundry and utilities). But San Geraldo was on the other side of the door and said, “Don’t come in! I think I saw a bee.” (Remember, I’m allergic.) Rather than risk the bee getting near me, he locked himself in the kitchen along with it. What a guy. When the bee realized it couldn’t get to me, it flew back out the way it came in.
As for the rest of the excitement, I’ve shared some more stories along with today’s photos.
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EL HERMANITO SE QUEJÓ AYER por el calor. En ese momento era 96˚F / 36˚C. Su apartamento no tiene aire acondicionado. Recibió un correo, pero dijo que me lo mostraría cuando esté allí. Espero que nada arruine mis planes.
Covid está regresando aquí, entre los veinteañeros y otros que no han sido vacunados (por el motivo que sea). Y escuchar sobre el progreso de las variantes en los Estados Unidos me ha puesto nervioso. Todavía no he tenido mi segundo jab de Astrazeneca. Está programado para el 25 de julio, pero he leído que el plan es acortar esa espera en unos 10 días. No me han contactado y ahora no puedo comunicarme por teléfono con Salud Pública. A pesar del calor, necesito dejar de sudar por las cosas pequeñas.
Ayer por la tarde, escuché la puerta de la cocina cerrarse. Pensé que el viento lo había cerrado porque tenía todas las puertas y ventanas abiertas (hay una pequeña terraza junto a la cocina para lavar la ropa y otros servicios). Pero San Geraldo estaba al otro lado de la puerta y dijo: “¡No entres! Creo que vi una abeja”. (Recuerde, soy alérgico). En lugar de arriesgarse a que la abeja se me acercara, se encerró en la cocina junto con ella. Qué chico. Cuando la abeja se dio cuenta de que no podía alcanzarme, voló por donde había entrado.
En cuanto al resto de la emoción, he compartido algunas historias más junto con las fotos de hoy.
• La puerta de la cocina.
• Ayer por la tarde. El agua permanece poco profunda durante mucho tiempo cuando el mar está en calma.
• De hecho, hubo nubes esta mañana.
• 30˚C/86˚F. Agradecido por la brisa.
• Más sobre él quizas mañana.
• Classy fabrics.
• Telas con clase.
• Para alquiler. Si levantara el asiento y el manillar para adaptarse a mi altura (si incluso llegan tan alto), sería casi como andar en monociclo.
• ¿El su permercado es diferente de un supermercado? ¿Qué es un permercado? No importa. Simplemente ve al lado por un helado — aunque no estoy muy seguro de cuál se supone que es la letra entre la i y la e. Quisquilloso, quisquilloso, quisquilloso.
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“Su permercado” might get what you get from a discount sign painter. Hope you get your next A-Z shot very soon.
Chrissoup:
Ha! Yep, a discount sign painter… and a non-Spanish-speaking business owner. I’m regularly stunned by the typos that go up on shops.
Oh my, San Geraldo, throwing himself in front of that bee to save you! Now THAT’S heroism!
Debra:
He has saved me from bees on numerous occassions. Once we were hiking having just read about killer bees nearing Connecticut. A bee started to aggressively come at me. Knowing killer bees would normally only chase for up to 1-4 mile, SG yelled, “Run!!!” while he stayed behind.
Very sad to hear of the gay man beaten and killed in Spain and reports of another gay-bashing there. I thought that Spain and Spanish citizens were more enlightened and tolerant. Stay safe.
Frank:
Heartbreaking. In our experience, Spaniards ARE more enlightened and tolerant, but there are hateful, ignorant people everywhere. Anti-gay attacks continue and this past year has shown an uptick, as it has everywhere.
If you don’t have your second AZ shot (and maybe even if you do) – just go to a pharmacy when you to NY and get either a Pfizer or Moderna shot. The data are very strong in showing that AZ is very complementary with either of the 2 mRNA vaccines. I have both of my AZ shots and am going to get a Pfizer shot on Saturday before I fly out of the US. I’ll let you know how it goes.
SG, once again, lives up to his name. The video of the Flight of the Bumblebee is priceless.
Wilma:
I can’t get on a plane without my second shot (nor would I want to), but that’s an intersting idea about a different third jab. I hadn’t heard that was possible. I do know there’s good proof that having Moderna for the second shot can be even more beneficial than two AZs.
I liked the shirt.
Urspo:
I thought you would. I like the shorts… although not for myself.
Hoping travel plans go smoothly. Glad the bee left, they usually will.
David:
I’ve always been told bees won’t bother you unless you bother them, but I’ve seen too many people stung by bees that just happened to land on them, so I don’t take any chances. Every time I was stung, however, was because the bee/wasp and I were both taken by surprise.
As someone who has gone into anaphylactic shock due to a sting, I stand in awe of the sacrifice SG was willing to make on your behalf. 🙂 Glad it ended well for both of you.
As for KB, ugh, I don’t blame him for being cranky if he doesn’t have a/c. It has been brutal (temp was109F real feel down my way today). I’m fortunate to have a/c. Couldn’t survive the swamp that is the DC area (in more ways than one–David will concur). Hope it cools off for him or that he can go some places with a/c to get a break. We’re under a Tropical Storm watch. Seems Steve mostly missed Elsa in FL, but she’s headed our way for tomorrow afternoon/night and then up KB’s way by Friday a.m.
Mary:
SG has never had an allergic reaction although we’ve ended up at Urgent Care for me. We spent three years in DC and even the average summer could be brutal. (And then there was Ronald Reagan.)
LOVE that take on ‘The Flight of the Bumblebee’!
Jim:
I had a great time researching music.
If you feel the need to skip that slimy thing please do. It gave me the willies!!!!! Unlike the hunk of burnin love in the first picture!
The Delta variant is now the predominant virus sweeping the country here. Vaccined can get it, but the affects won’t be like the poor suckers who foolishly declined. Dumb asses. I am working, but have now reeled back in my social events a tad. And I feel for your bother. NO AIR?!?!?!?!?! In New York?!?!?!? I have a friend in Brooklyn who didn’t have air…. till today. His place has been like 107 degrees inside. And with your bother’s living set up, I am appalled they don’t have air.
Mistress Borghese:
I regularly see the Hunka Hunka working out on the beach. I thought there was at least one AC unit in KB’s living room, but I couldn’t get a straight answer on that. The idiots declining the vaccine just because infuriate me.
I read that Pfizer and Moderna are 88% effective against any variants.
Laurent:
Yep.
Are you required to have the second vaccine before traveling? Do some Spaniards refuse the vaccine because they believe the crazy stories as Americans who haven’t been vaccinated? I’m just full of questions today.
Love,
Janie
Janie:
Yes, can’t get on a plane without being double-vaccinated. I’m sure some Spaniards believe the same crazy stories. There are idiots all over the world.
SG is a hero!!!
Now, give me that hunk on the paseo!
Bob:
The hunk has been shipped via DHL. He should arrive in your box (yes I did go there) Monday or Tuesday.
Well, I guess that’s where summer flew off to…
Walt the Fourth:
Today is only supposed to hit 77F/25C. A relief.
I’m enjoying the masklessness for now, but not giving rid of the several boxes I have tucked away in the closet. I’ve had the two shots but don’t know well that works against the variants.
I’m also enjoying looking at that hunk on the left hand side of your header.
Kirk:
I enjoy my mostly maskless walks, but am glad we still must wear them inside (and when within 5 feet of someone). Inside is strictly enforced, although we do have our random jerks. Outside is now a crapshoot. More than half follow safe distancing rules. But too many have become careless or completely irresponsible. That left-hand hunk can often be found working out on the beach. I think that’s where he was coming from.
Do you have an epi-pen for your bee allergy? My son has had one for many years as he has an allergy to peanuts.
My brother and his partner Mike were attacked a few years ago in Essex, where they live while on a dog walk. They reported it and there was a court case. Can’t remember what the outcome was. Luckily neither of them were badly hurt.
Re the photo of the beach…..
It would be my worst type of a holiday, sitting on a beach in the hot sun surrounded by lots of others, with just sand and water!!
Give me a cool wood to walk through anytime!
Frances:
I used to always have two epi-pens, one in my brief case and one at home that I packed in whatever else I might use on a give day. They expired after we arrived in Spain and I’ve never replaced them. Need to get on that! I used to be able to spend an entire day lounging on the beach and playing in the water, and sand. Now, I love being on the beach but the idea of just hanging around doesn’t do much for me, especially sun bathing. Oh the damage I’ve done.
Yes, yes, SG is an S!
I will be glad to know when you have gotten your second shot. I hate that you are having to wait so long.
Okay, now I have a language question: What is gielia? Is that supposed to be like a place to get gelato? I know helado, of course, and I know gelato, because it’s commonly used in the U.S., and I ‘d think of a gelateria being a place to get gelato… but, I don’t find any translation of gielia. Explain? Thanks!
Judy C:
Yep, SG is a Saint… often. I might try my luck at the Health Center Friday and see if I can change my appointment in person. They are supposed to be contacting everyone to do the shots sooner, but my date is approaching.
I have no idea what the name of that new ice cream shop is. I think the ice cream swirl between the GI and ELIA is supposed to be another letter. S? C? Gicelia? Someone’s name maybe? An example of poor design.
Those are impressive markings on that fish! Glad the bee didn’t get you. I feel for your brother — 96º is hot in an un-air-conditioned apartment.
Steve:
I wish I could tell you what kind of fish that is! I should check my notes (yes, I’ve taken notes). I’ll have to see for myself if there is really no AC in the apartment. The more I think about it, the more unlikely it seems — at least in the living room.
SG, my, I mean your, hero! How is he with spiders? We are heading into another spate of triple digit temperatures. I just CANT and I have a/c which will probably be threatened by rolling blackouts.
I don’t understand anti-vaxxers. The self-centeredness of it all. Someone (an IHOP waitress, no less) that she was more afraid of the vaccine than Covid. What the fudge?! You can’t spread the vaccine to others (too bad), but the disease is highly contagious, spreadable and deadly. You can’t fix stoopid, but it can kill others.
I don’t know if this is a fix for KB, but I remember my non air conditioning days. I ran around wrapped in a damp towel all day. Worked for me as long as I didn’t risk arrest by venturing outside.
Deedles:
SG IS a hero. For me, he’d take on a spider, too. But I can manage those myself. I can’t believe the heat you’re experiencing. We’re supposed to have another round of high heat in the area, but being on the water, we aren’t getting hit as hard here. When we arrived in Spain 10 years ago (in just a few days), we arrived in the city of Málaga to 100 degreet heat. A couple of days later, we trained up to Sevilla for 104 degree heat. The idea of the Kid Brother ”running around” in anything other than fully dressed is a laugh. I can’t speak for the idiots who refuse to get vaccinated.