La versión en español está después de la versión en inglés.
San Geraldo took Dudo back to the vet this morning. Easily done now that we know about that pheromone spray. Dudo weighed 3 kilos (6.6 lbs) in late January and now weighs 3.4 kilos (7.5 lbs). He’s still slender, but improving. When the latest blood tests are back they’ll let us know if we need to change or increase his medication.
Saturday was Andalucía Day. There was a multi-city bike race called Andalucía Bike Race (very clever), with six separate stages. Two in the city of Jaén, two in Granada, and the final two in Córdoba. The longest leg of the six stages, stage 5, began in Córdoba on the Paseo we view from our terrace. I unknowingly timed my gym workout perfectly to be returning just as the whistle blew and I caught the last cyclists as they took off, followed by a fleet of ambulances, for their 78.3 km (48.7 mile) trek. It was a total of 304 km (189 miles) over the six days and a lot of climbing.
The electrician was here to move the ceiling light fixture in the kitchen so the refrigerator door could open freely. He didn’t have any success. He raised the light as high as it could go and that still left it perhaps an eighth of an inch too low for the door to clear. The other options weren’t possible. We couldn’t raise the roof, but thought of lowering the floor. He was frustrated and apologetic, but we were grateful he tried. Besides, he asked if we needed a housekeeper (is it that obvious?) and his wife is going to start cleaning for us this week. She works as a housekeeper for a living, had Wednesdays available, and asked him to check with us (because he liked me so much; I was flattered).
After he left, we brainstormed and San Geraldo suggested we simply move the refrigerator a bit. We had to move it more than a bit and I had the idea to partially close the accordion wall and have the refrigerator sit in front of it. That worked and we’re back in business.
We’re trying to figure out how we can afford to pay to enclose the terrace in glass. It’s been an expensive few months with the move, new furniture, home improvements of our choosing, vet bills, my trip to New York, and more. We haven’t won the lottery and there’s nothing left to inherit. Reality can suck. But we’re lucky these are the worst of our immediate problems.
I made a quick trip to the supermarket yesterday afternoon and found myself smiling as I walked. Many people smiled back. One guy very clearly cruised me. Again, I was flattered. But the icing on the cake was when a well-dressed woman probably in her 5os smiled and said in Spanish, “Good evening, handsome.” And, I’m sure she wasn’t a hooker.
It rained all night and is drizzling now. Let a smile be your umbrella.
San Geraldo llevó a Dudo de vuelta al veterinario esta mañana. Es fácil hacerlo ahora que sabemos lo del spray de feromonas. Dudo pesaba 3 kilos (6,6 libras) a finales de enero y ahora pesa 3,4 kilos (7,5 libras). Sigue siendo delgado, pero está mejorando. Cuando estén los últimos análisis de sangre nos informarán si tenemos que cambiar o aumentar su medicación.
El sábado fue el Día de Andalucía. Se celebró una carrera ciclista por varias ciudades llamada Andalucía Bike Race (muy ingeniosa), con seis etapas distintas. Dos en la ciudad de Jaén, dos en Granada y las dos últimas en Córdoba. La etapa más larga de las seis etapas, la quinta, empezó en Córdoba, en el Paseo que vemos desde nuestra terraza. Sin darme cuenta, calculé perfectamente mi entrenamiento en el gimnasio para regresar justo cuando sonó el silbato y pude ver a los últimos ciclistas que salían, seguidos por una flota de ambulancias, para su recorrido de 78,3 km (48,7 millas). Fueron un total de 304 km (189 millas) en seis días y mucho desnivel.
El electricista vino a mover la lámpara del techo de la cocina para que la puerta del refrigerador pudiera abrirse libremente. No tuvo éxito. Levantó la lámpara lo más alto que pudo y aún así quedó quizás un octavo de pulgada más abajo de lo que podía pasar por la puerta. Las otras opciones no eran posibles. No podíamos levantar el techo, pero pensamos en bajar el piso. Estaba frustrado y se disculpó, pero le agradecimos que lo intentara. Además, preguntó si necesitábamos una empleada doméstica (¿es tan obvio?) y su esposa comenzará a limpiar para nosotros esta semana. Ella trabaja como empleada doméstica para ganarse la vida, tenía los miércoles libres y le pidió que nos lo preguntara (porque yo le agradaba mucho; me sentí halagada).
Después de que se fue, hicimos una lluvia de ideas y San Geraldo sugirió que simplemente moviéramos un poco el refrigerador. Tuvimos que moverlo un poco y se me ocurrió la idea de cerrar parcialmente la pared tipo acordeón y colocar el refrigerador frente a ella. Eso funcionó y volvimos a estar en funcionamiento.
Estamos tratando de averiguar cómo podemos permitirnos pagar el cierre de la terraza con vidrio. Han sido unos meses muy caros con la mudanza, los muebles nuevos, las mejoras en el hogar que elegimos, las facturas del veterinario, mi viaje a Nueva York y más. No hemos ganado la lotería y no tenemos nada que heredar. La realidad puede ser muy dura, pero tenemos suerte de que estos sean los peores de nuestros problemas inmediatos.
Ayer por la tarde hice un rápido viaje al supermercado y me encontré sonriendo mientras caminaba. Mucha gente me devolvió la sonrisa. Un tipo me miró con mucha claridad. Una vez más, me sentí halagado. Pero la guinda del pastel fue cuando una mujer bien vestida, de unos 50 años, sonrió y me dijo en español: “Buenas tardes, guapo”. Y estoy seguro de que no era una prostituta.
Llovió toda la noche y ahora llovizna. Deja que una sonrisa sea tu paraguas.
• La otra noche salimos a comer hamburguesas. San Geraldo se puso unas gafas mágicas pixeladas.
Amazing glasses! I was talking with someone who about to make her first trip to Spain. I assured her she would love it, and remembered that one thing that really struck me, is the people seemed to be genuinely happy. Happy with life, happy to see you, happy to be alive.
David:
I hope your friend loves Spain as much as you and I do.
I wish we had magic pixelating glasses in this country… The FDA cleared them, but OSHA thought they were dangerous.
wickedhamster:
No worries. Leon Skum will fire everyone at OSHA and you’ll be able to get whatever you want on the black market.
I was just wondering how those cats were doing. Glad you got the refrigerator figured out. Where there’s a will, there’s a way, I guess. And hopefully you will be happy with your new cleaner.
You are handsome. You should know this but it is good to be reminded.
Ms. Moon
Ms. Moon:
So relieved to have a new house cleaner and, yes, I hope we’ll like her. Her husband is great and when I spoke with her on the phone, we connected easily. Thanks regarding the handsome thing. Honestly, I don’t see it and actually looked in the mirror in the elevator to see what they were seeing. Maybe it was the smile.
The smile doesn’t hurt.
Boud here. It’s always good for your spirits to get admiration from strangers! Your apartment seems to be so well situated for views, events, everything, great choice. And the fridge is now better situated, good.
Boud:
We had no idea what a great location we had with this apartment. I mentioned to Ms.Moon that I actually looked in the mirror imn the elevator to see what those people were seeing that day. I wish I could see with their eyes. But it did boost my ego.
Oh, now…. that brought a big smile to my face, knowing that your smiling face became a joy for others to see!
Judy C:
It was a feel-good walk.
Indeed, a move can be expensive in a number of ways. We are waiting to have a countertop of our choosing to be installed along with a kitchen sink of our choosing……not to mention storage closets set up in the pantry area. I am sure, once things have settled, that you both will be happy with your choices.
Good to hear that Dudo is gaining a little weight.
Jim:
I had thought Dudo had “only” gained a pound in nearly a month. But I then realized, proportionally, that would be like me gaining 15 pounds in a month.
Oh look I see somebody’s been busy having fun with photoshop on poor San Geraldo!!! Is it possible you guys can take the whole light fixture out and just get something new that seems to be more flat and chic?
Mistress Borghese:
The light fixture is brand new, installed by us. The move of the fridge solved the problem. Plus it makes the kitchen look even bigger.
Good news about Dudo!
We’ve gone the same way with funds this month, between a vacation to Savannah and Consuelo getting checked out at the vet; she’s fine, just aging. And then getting new gutters for the house.
As Sheila E sang: We lead a glamorous life!!
Bob:
Well, at least you guys had a trip to Savannah in there and I had New York. Hi ho the glamorous life!
Way to go, Dudo, keep gaining weight! Love that photo of SG and his magic pixelating glasses! And look at you, Mr Chick-and-Guy-Magnet!
Debra:
That walk made up for plenty of days of feeling invisible. I wish I could bottle what it was I was exhibiting that day.
Well, it’s too bad the man didn’t say “Good evening, handsome” — but maybe he did, with his eyes! (Which presumably weren’t pixellated?)
I’m glad you sorted out the refrigerator AND got a cleaner in the bargain!
Steve:
The man’s unpixelated eyes said it all. I did a quick vacuum yesterday so the new housekeeper doesn’t think we’re pigs.
I feel it in my water – that kitchen light fitting is going to be the next saga…
At least you got a bit of flirting out of it! Always a joy, when it comes out of the blue. Jx
Jon:
We installed the light fixture and we still like it very much, so now that the fridge can open, I think that’s settled. That walk was quite a surprise. And neither of them was 117 years old!
Ohh
Glad Dudo seems to be recovering! And the attitude with the glasses? Priceless.
All those expenses do pile up. Especially after moving!!!
XOXO
Sixpence Notthewiser:
One would think I’d be used to being an adult by now.
Guapo, you still got it! Olivia
Olivia:
That was such a surprise. Nice to not always feel invisible.
My hometown had an event called Spring Fling which had a grand bicycle race. It was canceled indefinitely after people kept shooting each other at night 🤦🏻
Adam:
No one would even have to ask if you live in the United States. How awful!
Nice post, handsome!
Kirk:
What a feeling. We’ll see how long I can hold onto that.
I am glad to read that Dudo is doing better. And “Let a smile be your umbrella” is the most perfect saying. Thanks for that…I’ve been a bit down with all of the chaos going on here in the states.
Michael:
It’s so difficult to not drown in this misery. I’m trying.
I am trying too, but alas, not really succeeding all that much!
Good afternoon, handsome. Your smile is priceless.
Your stories are fun too.
Cheers, Mitchell.
Anonymous:
I’m glad you enjoy my stories… and my smile. Thanks!
I want those specs too.
Urspo:
They’re free at every table. It’s a promotional gimmick. But maybe not very effective since I can’t remember what they promote.
I’m confused… he puts the glasses on and everybody around him sees pixels?
Walt the Fourth:
Yes! Isn’t that incredible?
I’ve told you before that you have a gorgeous smile! I don’t understand what the glasses do.
Love,
Janie
janiejunebug.
The cardboard “glasses” are a marketing come-on placed on all the tables. Obviously not very effective since I have no idea what they’re promoting. Anyway, since the “lenses” are pixelated, I thought it would be funny if everything around you becomes pixelated when you wear them.
Thanks. Definitely lost on me.