La versión en español está después de la versión en inglés.
I NEVER GOT AROUND TO posting this yesterday, so I’ve added a bit. Friday morning, the boys were insistent on getting their treats. I served them fairly quickly forgetting that it was Friday and they’re supposed to wait for Isabel. So, I told Isabel they’d already had their treats.
When we got home, Isabel said they had been following her around. Once they saw me, they followed me instead. When I said, no, Moose again tried Isabel. I even heard him tell her it was a lie, they had not already had treats. (I’m pretty sure that’s what he said.) They finally gave up and just stared at me accusingly. They’re good at that.
Tuesday I had told The Kid Brother it was his fault they were so spoiled (they’ve never met except on FaceTime). He said, “Hey, I had nuttin’ to do wid it, wise guy!” Then he added, “You should give em what dey want, ya know.”
This morning, I gave them the treats early and went for a walk before breakfast — because I’ve been so moody that I find any excuse to not leave the house after breakfast. It rained a bit overnight (we slept through it) and there was a 79 percent chance of rain while I was out. An exciting prospect. I walked on the beach at first and felt two rain drops. I was ecsatic. I headed back to the Paseo and about 20 minutes later, I felt another two drops of rain. Then the sky brightened. I checked my mobile for the forecast and the chance of rain had dropped to 2 percent. Just like that.
I’m counting the days until the end of August when our temporary neighbors next door go home, along with a whole bunch of other out-of-towners. This is the fourth year that this same family has rented the apartment. They try their best to make no eye contact when we pass in the hall or on the stairs. I offer a greeting. Sometimes they ignore it. Other times they grudgingly respond. They have two children who behave the same way. No surprise.
Here, and in Sevilla as well, it’s common when you walk into a small shop to greet other shoppers and staff with a good morning or good afternoon. I’ve grown accustomed to that. Life is different in August.
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NUNCA PUDE PUBLICAR ESTO AYER, así que agregué un poco. El viernes por la mañana, los gatos insistieron en recibir sus aperetivos. Les serví bastante rápido olvidándome de que era viernes y se suponía que debían esperar a Isabel. Entonces, le dije a Isabel que ya habían comido sus aperetivos.
Cuando llegamos a casa, dijo que la habían estado siguiendo. Una vez que me vieron, me siguieron. Cuando dije que no, Moose volvió a intentarlo con Isabel. Incluso le oí decirle que era mentira, que aún no habían comido golosinas. (Estoy bastante seguro de que eso es lo que dijo). Finalmente se rindieron y me miraron acusadoramente. Son buenos en eso.
El martes le había dicho a El Hermanito que era su culpa que estuvieran tan malcriados (nunca se conocieron excepto en FaceTime). Él dijo: “¡Oye, no tuve nada que ver con eso, idiota!” Luego agregó: “Deberías darles lo que quieren, ya sabes.”
Esta mañana, les di los aperetivos temprano y salí a caminar antes del desayuno, porque he estado tan malhumorado que encuentro cualquier excusa para no salir de casa después del desayuno. Llovió un poco durante la noche (dormimos a través de la lluvia) y había un 79 por ciento de probabilidad de lluvia mientras yo estaba fuera. Una perspectiva apasionante. Caminé por la playa al principio y sentí dos gotas de lluvia. Estaba ecsático. Regresé al Paseo y unos 20 minutos después, sentí otras dos gotas de lluvia. Entonces el cielo se iluminó. Revisé mi móvil para ver el pronóstico, y la probabilidad de lluvia se redujo al 2 por ciento.
Estoy contando los días hasta finales de agosto cuando nuestros vecinos temporales de al lado se van a casa, junto con un montón de otros forasteros. Este es el cuarto año que esta misma familia alquila el piso. Hacen todo lo posible por no mirarnos a los ojos cuando pasamos por el pasillo o en las escaleras. Ofrezco un saludo. A veces lo ignoran. Otras veces responden de mala gana. Tienen dos hijos que se comportan de la misma manera. Sin sorpresa.
Aquí, y también en Sevilla, es común entrar en una pequeña tienda para saludar a otros compradores y al personal con un buen día o una buena tarde. Me he acostumbrado a eso. La vida es diferente en agosto.
• Al comienzo de mi caminata.
• Camino a casa.
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My dream at present is to say “good morning” to you both in reality!
Have a wonderful day.
Nick:
Oh, I sure hope that’s soon. Hurricane hitting Long Island just as I was supposed to arrive!
Thanks for the Good Morning video link. Always makes me smile. I could use a smile these days.
Never understood how folks like your ‘temp neighbors’ can be so rude. I always learn the customs of wherever I travel and phrases to respond in the appropriate language. Must say, that kind of rudeness isn’t limited to tourists. The last few year before I retired, it seemed like everyone they hired was completely devoid of manners. They would pass you in the hall (not even five feet wide) and never make eye contact or respond to a greeting. All folks in their 20s or 30s. Completely mystified me. Then just pissed me off. I started saying hello when I passed them just to piss them off and then respond to myself when they didn’t answer. Me: “Hi, how are you? Silence. Me again: I’m fine, how are you?” Same thing when I would hold doors open for people and they acted like it is my job and not a courtesy. They’d sail through–again, no eye contact–and no thank you, either. So after they passed, I would loudly say, “You’re welcome!” and under my breath, add, “Asshole.”
I’ll share my smile with you, Mary. Hugs.
Mary:
I love that song! Our temp neighbors are I’m pretty sure from Córdoba. They don’t need to learn local customs and should know better, although most of the owners who are only here on holidays are from Córdoba and many are equally cold. That being said, however, the owners of the apartment below us are from Córdoba, and they are two of the most wonderful people we’ve ever met (their entire extended family is wonderful, as well). We wish they lived here year-round. So, I’m not trashing those from Córdoba! Once, when entering my mother’s building, I saw someone hold the door for someone else. The holdee said thank you. The holder did not hear and snapped. “Thank you! You’re welcome!” I whispered to the holdee that the person did in fact say thank you and she just didn’t hear it. There was an awkward, apologetic exchange between the two. So, I’m careful to not say anything aloud. Just in case.
I sing that song to Carlos quite often, until he threatens to murder me.
Then I sing louder!!
We also get the Lying Cats acting as if they haven’t been fed or had treats. Sometimes it works …
Living in a small town I have learned that you say Hello to people on the street and in the shops. perhaps your yearly visitors need a book on hallway etiquette.
Bob:
I’ve mentioned how Moose likes me to kneel on the floor next to him while he eats his dry food. He often expects me to return with him a couple of times within just a few minutes. When I tell him we just did this, he claims that must have been Dudo. The lying little shit.
I’d have the most obese cats, I wouldn’t want them telling lies about how I hadn’t given them treats behind my back, I’d just give them whatever they wanted.
David:
I have a feeling if SG were on his own with the cats, they’d be getting treats more often.
Look at the bright side, Scoot. That may be a family of serial killers on vacay, and being rude keeps them from having to work 🙂 Or, maybe you have a serial killer look about you,( you do have killer teeth and eyes ) and they’re trying to avoid being eaten (y’all do like your exotic foods).
My dogs have the same thousand yard stare as Dudo and Moose. I’m supposed to know what they want just by reading their facial expressions. I’ve gotten good at it too, though that’s somewhat worrisome. We’ve learned to spell out cookie and, at times, potty. If they learn to spell, we will be in deep doggie do.
Oh, oh (because it’s all about me) the water heater was fixed yesterday! That hot shower after three weeks of hauling water from the stove, was glorious! One should never take hot water on the back for granted! I think I may have evicted a few bug families once that shampoo hit my hair! Oh, frabious joy! Just sharing the happy.
Deedles:
Good point. It may be better to not know these neighbors too well. Two pairs of Canadians shared an apartment in our building a couple of times (haven’t been back due to Covid.) We thought, Canadians, always great people! Not so fast. They were awful and got a reputation in the neighborhood for being grabby, cheap, and difficult. Without being obviously rude, we kept our distance, which would have been easier had we not already been welcoming. SO excited you have hot water, as are your neighbors. Apparently, air quality in your neighborhood had become unhealthy and no one knew exaclty why.
I love you, Scoot!
Deedles:
Ditto. You make the world a better place!
It’s weird how some people are so reluctant to offer a basic greeting, or at least a smile. The cats know that you have MORE treats. Whether they’ve already had one or not is immaterial, in their minds.
Steve:
You think like a cat.
‘The boys’ are definitely spreading LIES about you! You can just tell…..look at that look in their eyes! lol
I think most of us could use a little rain about now.
Jim:
We just missed another morning rain opportunity. The cats have had their treats, their pets, and aren’t currently demanding anything.
It is the height of rudeness here to not greet everyone you pass and all the shop workers, etc. In fact, you might not get any service (or poor service) if you don’t first offer a smile and a good morning. Maybe you can teach the cats to say good morning before they demand treats! Nah, don’t waste your effort.
Wilma:
I don’t know what they cats are saying, but they DO say a lot before getting their treats. Maybe good morning is in there somewhere. I’m sure I’ve heard “Get the hell out of bed!”
In France, too, it’s definitely the expected courtesy, to greet the shop worker when you enter and when you leave. I remind my students about that, always. Now I’ll be sure to remind my Spanish students, too!
After one of my French students (whom I had had for three years), was gifted a family trip to Paris, after graduation, her mom told me that she reminded them every time they went into a shop… “Ms Chabot said to be sure to say Bonjour and Merci and AuRevoir, Madame” …” –ha! Such fun to have an impact on another little life. Her mom said she couldn’t count the number of times that they were somewhere in Paris, and her mom said, “Ms Chabot told us….”. Now, I’m getting new students on Monday, and I’ll be sharing Spain through lots of your photos, to 60 new Spanish students! They’ll probably expect to be seeing Dudo and Moose if they ever make it to Spain, so I might need to clarify that they only appear in SOME places in Spain 🙂
Judy C:
It’s so wonderful when you realize your words have made an impact on someone. She’ll probably be quoting Ms. Chabot forever. I still quote my Italian teacher from 1973 who said if you want to speak like you’re from NYC all you have to do is lose all muscle control in your face. See? I just quoted her again. Teachers can change our lives. If you’d ever like to share something specific from a personal view, let me know and I’ll get a photo to you. Roman and Moorish ruins. Museums, art. You name it. I’d offer to take Dudo and Moose to airports to greet any incoming students, but that wouldn’t go over very well with Dudo and Moose.
Haaaaa, they’d have to wear a mask, little Dudo and Moose!
Judy C:
Sure. And we’ll walk them around the airport on leashes. I’m sure they’d cooperate
If your chilly neighbours were the ones with the creepy doll in the hall, then you’re better off not getting too friendly with them, LOL! We’re all in the summer doldrums right now and the state of the world isn’t helping. Unfortunately, big pharma ruined that “Good Morning!” song for me when it was used to sell Viagara on TV a few years ago… Treat yourself to some Lindt dark chocolate — Swiss chocolate makes everything better!
Tundra Bunny:
The neighbors with the creepy doll live here year-round. He owns a local hair salon. And, although they have that creepy doll, they have two adorable daughters and are wonderful neighbors. And, oh my god (because I refuse to type OMG), I never saw that Viagra commercial. I don’t know if I should look for it now; I don’t want it to ruin that song for me, too. We do happen to have a box of Lindt dark chocolate truffles in the house! I’ll have one now, because you told me to.
The “good morning” Viagra commercials were probably made only for Canadian TV, which also might explain why your Canadian neighbours were grabby, cheap and difficult, LOL! Either that, or they were Albertans….enjoy your Swiss chocolate truffles!
Tundra Bunny:
Those Canadians who were so disappointingly un-Canadian WERE from Alberta. I’ve learned something. The next time I meet a Canadian, I’ll be sure to ask before I befriend them.
Your kid brother is right, ya know. Give ’em what they want!
Jennifer:
Moose’s complaints would drive Chuck crazy. Besides, he WOULD spoil them to death. When I went away to school, I gave him my three tropical fish tanks. I had taught him how to take care of them. He overfed them and then, because it was winter, he worried they’d be cold so he turned the aquarium heaters up. Apparently the entire apartment smelled like cooked fish.
The terrace looks so inviting! And it’s sheltered from the weather! Ours is exposed and only gets used in good weather, and not at all in winter.
Walt the Fourth:
You’ll remember how exposed ours was before the glass curtain. We had to move all the plants to that inside corner most of the year to protect them from the wind, too. The glass curtain added another 330 sq ft of living space, which we don’t use enough.