La versión en español está después de la versión en inglés.
Let’s call this post what it is. A free-for-all. A brain dump. There is no flow and no consistent message. It’s an olio, meaning in this case a miscellaneous collection of things and not a Spanish or Portuguese spicy stew of meats and vegetables. It’s the state of my mind.
To begin: I had no clogged ear or dizzies Sunday. I just had a moment today, but I’m hoping it doesn’t get worse. I plan to finally get to the art supply shop to pick up a new set of watercolor markers. I’ve got bed linens in the wash right now. Yesterday I did two loads of laundry which each dried on the roof within an hour. Today is supposed to be “cooler.” Instead of yesterday’s 42C/107.6F, it’s only supposed to reach 37C/98.6. Sounds like a healthy temperature.
We bought three, cheap, little fuzzy rugs thinking the color would be fun on the terrace and the cats would like them, but the rugs are more yellow than we expected and didn’t work the way we had hoped. Dudo has taken to the throw rugs wherever I throw them. Moose, so far, sits and overlooks them. The rug brings out the yellow in his eyes. They’ve all been washed (the rugs, not the cats).
My mind is overwhelmed with thoughts of what the Orange Menace is now doing in the United States. The deployment of the National Guard in Los Angeles without consultation with the state governor. Frightening. Of course, violence has escalated and others who weren’t protesting the government’s illegal immigration policies have gotten involved making matters worse. This can’t end well.
I saw a couple on the street that may have been visiting from Fuengirola. Same fashion sense. See below.
There was a gang-style shooting in Fuengirola last week just a few minute’s walk from our old apartment. Two men were at an Irish bar on Fuengirola’s Paseo when a gunman opened fire. One was killed immediately; the other then tried to hide inside the bar when he was shot and killed. The bar was busy with customers watching the Champions League. Both victims were members of a Scottish drug gang and had apparently escaped assassination attempts in Glasgow before hiding out in Fuengirola. I’m glad no innocent people were hurt, but I’m sure that’s not an experience that would be easy to get over. It’s an awful story but at least one of the two was thought to have shot and killed someone else 15 years ago and gotten away with it, if that makes the story easier to digest.
It seems strange to get back to business here after that story, but just think of me as a TV newscaster. We’re back in summer fruit season and San Geraldo has been providing well for us. I’ve returned to “cooking” (my version of cooking). I cut up a nectarine and a Saturn peach this morning to add to my yogurt and cereal. It wasn’t my usual gourmet breakfast. I’m out of almonds and dried cranberries. Still, it was artful and delicious. I’d like that to be the only thought in my head.
Llamemos a este post como es. Una locura. Un volcado mental. No hay fluidez ni un mensaje coherente. Es un olio, es decir, en este caso, una colección de cosas diversas, no un guiso picante español o portugués de carnes y verduras. Es mi estado de ánimo.
Para empezar: el domingo no tuve un oído tapado ni mareos. Hoy solo tuve un pequeño resfriado, pero espero que no empeore. Planeo ir por fin a la tienda de arte a comprar un nuevo juego de rotuladores de acuarela. Tengo la ropa de cama en la lavadora ahora mismo. Ayer lavé dos cargas de ropa y cada una se secó en el tejado en una hora. Hoy se supone que hará “más fresco”. En lugar de 42°C/107,6°F, solo se supone que llegará a 37°C/98,6°F. Parece una temperatura saludable.
Compramos tres alfombras peluditas y baratas pensando que el color sería divertido en la terraza y que les gustarían a los gatos, pero son más amarillas de lo que esperábamos y no quedaron como esperábamos. Dudo se ha acostumbrado a las alfombras dondequiera que las tire. Moose, hasta ahora, se sienta y las observa. La alfombra resalta el amarillo de sus ojos. Todas están lavadas (las alfombras, no los gatos).
Me abruma la mente pensando en lo que la Amenaza Naranja está haciendo ahora en Estados Unidos. El despliegue de la Guardia Nacional en Los Ángeles sin consultar con el gobernador del estado. Aterrador. Claro que la violencia ha aumentado, y otros que no protestaban contra las políticas de inmigración ilegal del gobierno se han involucrado, empeorando las cosas. Esto no puede acabar bien.
Vi a una pareja en la calle que quizá venían de Fuengirola. Tienen el mismo estilo. Ver abajo.
La semana pasada hubo un tiroteo entre bandas en Fuengirola, a solo unos minutos a pie de nuestro antiguo apartamento. Dos hombres estaban en un bar irlandés del Paseo de Fuengirola cuando un pistolero abrió fuego. Uno murió en el acto; el otro intentó esconderse dentro del bar cuando le dispararon y lo mataron. El bar estaba lleno de clientes viendo la Champions League. Ambas víctimas eran miembros de una banda de narcotraficantes escoceses y, al parecer, habían escapado de intentos de asesinato en Glasgow antes de esconderse en Fuengirola. Me alegra que no haya habido heridos inocentes, pero estoy seguro de que no es una experiencia fácil de superar. Es una historia horrible, pero se cree que al menos uno de los dos disparó y mató a otra persona hace 15 años y se salió con la suya, si eso hace que la historia sea más fácil de digerir.
Parece extraño volver al trabajo después de esa historia, pero imagínenme como presentadora de noticias. Ya estamos en temporada de fruta de verano y San Geraldo nos ha dado muy buenos frutos. He vuelto a cocinar (mi versión de cocinar). Esta mañana corté una nectarina y un paraguayo para añadirlos a mi yogur y cereales. No fue mi desayuno gourmet habitual. Se me acabaron las almendras y los arándanos secos. Aun así, fue ingenioso y delicioso. Me gustaría que solo pensara en eso.
• Se mudó del recinto ferial a nuestro barrio. Una adición divertida.
• A la vuelta de la esquina de la torre (arriba). Me encanta este edificio.
It is warm there. Knife work is one of the essential cooking skills, great knife work. What skill will you master next? How to boil water? If you try washing the cats, make sure J is taking video. I like the rugs.
David:
You wouldn’t call it great knife work if you saw me with the knife in my hand! I do know how to boil water and make toast. If I tried actually giving the cats a bath, it would have to be R-rated due to all the gore.
Smart man you are….focus on the important stuff/breakfast/cats/SG/and fashion!
Jim:
Especially breakfast and cats, and not necessarily in that order.
Who would have thought…Scottish drug gangs (there is such a thing?) and gun shootings…in Spain… Anyhow, one of my favorite pasta dishes is the humble and peasant inspired “Spaghetti aglio e olio e peperoncini” with plenty of parmigiano reggiano. I get hungry just thinking about it and it’s only 7:15am.
Frank D:
I’m hungry just thinking about that, too. Yes, who would have thought. The Costa del Sol is sadly a hot spot for the drug trade.
That couple’s outfit is so horrible as to be almost magnificent. I mean, her dress looks fine on its own but combine it with her man’s outfit and hell is screaming for more. How and why did she let him out of the house wearing those two such diverse striped patterns?
You have reminded me. I need more peaches. Also mangos. Thank you.
As to Orange Intestine- every day the horror increases just as we think it can’t.
Maria Luna
Maria Luna:
I love your description of the couple’s style. I again had a nectarine and a Saturn peach with breakfast. Delicious way to start the day.
Those new throw rugs are like looking directly into the sun itself! So bright and cheery! The situation in LA is appalling but consistent with MAGA attitudes and no doubt nefarious plans.
Debra:
I like the rugs so I’ll just keep throwing them around the house for the cats.
Wonderful post, Mitch, you know, we just love the slice of life that you provide! The yellow throw rug is bright, but it does look like fun 🙂
California’s governor Newsom has completely had it with the crazy BS of the Trump administration and he’s sounding off strongly, and initiated a big huge lawsuit today. Go go go!
Judy C:
I can’t imagine where things will go in California and the country now. Frightening to think about.
I love this something for everyone post. From yellow rugs to gang hits.. The fashion forward couple was quite a relief. Boud.
Boud:
I don’t see outfits like that very often around the city. Much more stylish people here.
Every single day I’m reminded of my older brother’s kidding threat, “You’re cruisin’ for a bruisin’.” 47 keeps poking and goading endlessly. I wish someone had once slapped him into next week. Or that they will, and soon.
An Australian reporter covering the LA protest has already been shot by rubber bullets.
Kirk:
I read about that, too. And it would seem the officer knew exactly what he was aiming at.
This post fits well with the way my brain works. My favorite photo is Moose and the throw (thrown?) rug.
Kelly:
I was going to try throwing a pot, but rugs are easier.
“There is no flow and no consistent message. ” heck that is me everyday!!!!! Lately, I don’t know Im coming or going. My summer schedule looks nuts. But not much work….which is always refreshing.
Mistress Borghese:
Glad there’s not much work in the schedule. I want to go to the beach with you!
I read about that gang shooting in our newspapers – all of ’em, victims and shooters alike, are nasty criminals, but why do they have to do their dirty business in a bar full of innocent punters? Mindless.
On a far more pleasant subject – I love that yellow building with the floral terraces, too! So utterly, typically Spanish. Sigh. Jx
PS Good to see the “Fuengirola bad-dressers” are following you – I look forward to more “candid shots” of such sights as the tourist season really kicks off in earnest…
Jon:
I’m expecting tourists to be less apparent here in summer. Anyone who does research will realize it’s probably too hot to be here. Most of the population is at the beach. It will be interesting to see. Although I love catching the questionable fashion photos, I’m pleased I don’t see much of it here. Lots more classy, stylish dressers here.
Republicans warned us of BIG GOVERNMENT when a Black president tried to help this country
Now they dance in celebration in a fascist big government 🤦
Adam
NEKORANDOM.COM
Adam:
Hypocrisy in action. No big government, except our authoritarian one.
Mitchell, I am catching up on your last three posts. 1. It is as hot as hell there! I don’t know if I would enjoy that heat. 2. The bureaucracy sounds like a major nightmare. 3. I loved your newscast approach to this blog entry! It’s a slice of your life and it was enjoyable to read.
“Both victims were members of a Scottish drug gang and had apparently escaped assassination attempts in Glasgow before hiding out in Fuengirola.”
Wait… WHAT???
XOXO
Sixpence Notthewiser:
I know! Who would have thought?!?
Michael:
Humidity is usually very low and I’m surprised at how well I’ve been handling it. However, it was 95F and 81% humidity when I went to the doctor this morning!
Now that is hot!
It would appear that the fashion sense you see in Spain is infectious, same thing here in Charlottetown PEI. I saw people on the streets in such attire and thought are they Spanish tourists or Ex-pats living in Spain and coming here to share their fashion? The worst for me are men in such outfits insisting on wearing dark socks.
larrymuffin:
Not Spanish tourists. Usually UK tourists! And yes, the dark socks. And with sandals.
It’s even hotter there than it is here. The yellow rug looks like a giant bird the boys killed. They must feel triumphant when they look at it. I have some unused watercolor markers. I’ll put them in the mail for you. You might get them in 2 or 3 years.
Love,
Janie
janiejunebug:
But, unlike Florida, usually 30% humidity or lower. I had unused watercolor markers, too. ALL dried out.
I saw the tv news headlines about a shooting in Fuengirola while there. Thank you for the rest of the story! Who would have dreamed about being tracked internationally to a tourist town, but then again, why not. We are a global society. If the only people shot were the intended victims, that is LOADS better than US shooters who always seem to take out innocent bystanders. Olivia
Olivia:
There have been a number of stories of drug gang violence in Marbella and other places. I had heard rumors that Fuengirola had a presence, but this is a first for me. Frightening. And to be an innocent bystander! Yes, glad only the gangsters were shot this time.
Oh those fashionistas, Bless their hearts.
Bob:
We were coming home from coffee. SG kept walking. He’s convinced I’m going to get caught one of these days.