La versión en español está después de la versión en inglés.
Thanks to all for so many kind comments and messages about Dudo and Moose. We even had a call last night from Cesar and Daisy in Connecticut who actually figured out how to use FaceTime just for us. We were honored and overjoyed. We’ll be chatting with Matt and Lindy this afternoon.
A friend from Goiko Grill was here during the day with her husband and son and they picked up cat paraphernalia until they ran out of room in their car. All that’s left for pick-up is the second tall cat tree. They have two cats, another co-worker has one, and still another volunteers for the city’s cat rescue organization. So they’ll make great use of everything. We feel so good about that.
After collecting the towels used for the cats and all the throws that had been protecting the furniture, I did two loads of laundry yesterday and have another going now. The large cabinet under the kitchen island is completely empty, the shelves in the coat closet are bare, and the apartment looks and feels much more spacious with three cat trees gone and the living room furniture exposed. That satisfies my anal retentive, OCD tendencies. Although it’s nice to not have to regularly check the apartment for “gifts” from the cats, I do find myself looking for the boys whenever I enter any room.
San Geraldo and I glimpsed a few processions from the taxi Wednesday, but I haven’t been out to take in the sights and get photos. I thought even if I caught nothing else I would at least get out yesterday to see the Spanish Foreign Legion being holy in their tight pants and chest-baring shirts as they accompanied Christ of the Good Death from the cathedral and back. I didn’t. The Good Death did seem like an appropriate procession for me to catch, but they had to accompany him without me. Maybe I’ll get out and see a procession or two today.
I made a quick run to a small market yesterday, the only one open in the neighborhood, and I saw three penitents in search of something. I didn’t find what I was looking for. I hope those three did.
When Elena phoned from the hotel Friday, she said she had to come to us before dinner because she had something to drop off. I told San Geraldo and he grinned and said, “Torrijas!” He was right. Elena’s are unbelievably good. She taught SG how to make them. Learn about them here. And don’t call them Spanish French toast if you know what’s good for you.
When I got into bed Tuesday night, San Geraldo asked me how The Kid Brother was. I said, “Sometimes he drives me up a fucking wall.” I’ll tell you about that another time. Rest assured, he’s fine.
Gracias a todos por tantos comentarios y mensajes amables sobre Dudo y Moose. Incluso recibimos una llamada anoche de César y Daisy en Connecticut, quienes lograron usar FaceTime solo para nosotros. Nos sentimos honrados y muy felices. Hablaremos con Matt y Lindy esta tarde.
Una amiga de Goiko Grill estuvo aquí durante el día con su esposo e hijo y recogieron artículos para gatos hasta que se quedaron sin espacio en su auto. Lo único que falta por recoger es el segundo rascador alto para gatos. Tienen dos gatos, otro compañero de trabajo tiene uno, y otro más es voluntario en la organización de rescate de gatos de la ciudad. Así que le darán un gran uso a todo. Nos sentimos muy bien por eso.
Después de recoger las toallas usadas para los gatos y todas las mantas que protegían los muebles, lavé dos tandas de ropa ayer y ahora tengo otra en marcha. El armario grande debajo de la isla de la cocina está completamente vacío, los estantes del armario de abrigos están vacíos, y el apartamento se ve y se siente mucho más espacioso sin los tres rascadores para gatos y con los muebles de la sala al descubierto. Eso satisface mis tendencias obsesivo-compulsivas y maniáticas. Aunque es agradable no tener que revisar el apartamento constantemente en busca de “regalos” de los gatos, me encuentro buscándolos cada vez que entro en cualquier cuarto.
San Geraldo y yo vimos algunas procesiones desde el taxi el miércoles, pero no he salido a disfrutar del paisaje ni a sacar fotos. Pensé que, aunque no viera nada más, al menos saldría ayer para ver a la Legión Extranjera Española, con sus pantalones ajustados y camisetas que dejaban el pecho al descubierto, acompañando al Cristo de la Buena Muerte desde la catedral hasta su regreso. No lo hice. La procesión de la Buena Muerte me pareció apropiada para verla, pero tuvieron que acompañarla sin mí. Quizás hoy salga a ver una o dos procesiones.
Ayer fui rápidamente a un pequeño mercado, el único abierto en el barrio, y vi a tres penitentes buscando algo. No encontré lo que buscaba. Espero que ellos tres sí.
Cuando Elena llamó desde el hotel el viernes, dijo que tenía que venir porque tenía algo que no querríamos llevar a la cena. Se lo dije a San Geraldo y sonrió y dijo: “¡Torrijas!”. Tenía razón. Las de Elena están increíblemente buenas. Ella le enseñó a SG cómo hacerlas. Aprende sobre ellas aquí. Y no las llames tostadas francesas españolas si sabes lo que te conviene. Cuando me acosté el martes por la noche, San Geraldo me preguntó cómo estaba el Hermano Menor. Le dije: “A veces me saca de quicio”. Te contaré sobre eso en otra ocasión. Tranquilo, está bien.
• Mientras disfrutábamos de un café y un segundo desayuno en Roldán el miércoles por la mañana.
• Moose, felizmente ajeno a todo, el miércoles por la tarde. ¡Cómo me gustaría darle un abrazo!
Click the thumbnails to enlarge.
Haz clic en las miniaturas para ampliar.
Torrijas look delicious. I thought about you all a lot yesterday, wondering how you were doing. I remember when Murphy died, I kept thinking that I would hear him in the house. It took me a bit of time to get over that. The picture of Moose sleeping is adorable. Take care.
Michael:
So grateful for Elena’a torrijas. SG isn’t making any this year. I shouldn’t even have had one. But what the hell! (I had three, one a day.) I keep thinking I hear Dudo or Moose and I look for them whenever I enter a room. As you well know, it’s not easy.
That is a wonderful picture of Moose, even though it makes me tear up! I know what you mean about cleaning up after the death of an animal. When I cleared Olga’s stuff and cleaned the flat it felt weirdly good and healing, because pets ARE messy, but of course it’s sad as well. You’ll be watching for them from the corner of your eye for a while.
Steve:
Yes, we’re in that mixed up stage of feeling back in control and feeling like something’s not quite right.
I’m glad that you get to enjoy a more spacious feeling, uncovered home, now, with no surprises:) Nothing to do but look on the brighter side, right?
Judy C:
And that’s what we try to do. Right?
Good that all ‘the boys’ things have found homes.
Must be very quiet around there now.
Moose looks very content.
Jim:
We still have the one cat tree to get out of the house. It’s hard to see it. And, yes, it is so quiet. We have to start playing music again. The cats didn’t like it.
It will be a while before you stop looking for them. After years I still check that Duncan’s not planning to trip me on the stairs. It does feel neater after their belongings are dealt with, and you sound pretty good considering.
I wonder if good Friday will be more about being in church than processing. You’ll see anyway. Boud
Boud:
Loads of processions yesterday. I missed them all! Moose loved to plant himself right in our path through the dining room. We both still scope out the room before we walk.
So pleased you’ve done the “de-clutter” so quickly and smoothly. It will take a while to adjust to a more empty flat, I’m sure. Time heals.
Meanwhile, the “fancy dress” in Cordoba goes on – those penitents in black satin look more comical than scary, and that woman really has dug out every combination of colour and texture for her outfit, hasn’t she? Remarkable.
I’ve never had a torrija, but I definitely could eat one at the moment! Jx
Jon:
I LOVE torrijas. El Corte Inglés supermarket sells decent ones, but nothing like Elena’s and SG’s. The de-clutter made a huge difference. But the mood is not yet wonderful around here.
Now that it’s been a day, I will say I cried a good bit yesterday reading your post, and now I’m tearing up again.
And last night, while working at the computer, I felt a cat tail rub against my leg … all of our cats would make an appearance whenever I was in the office and let me know they were near. But last night I reached down and there was no cat and so I naturally assumed it was Tuxedo. Later on I found Rosita sitting in the bathroom window, just as Tuxedo used to do.
I guess I’m saying that even after they’re gone, they’re still around, right when you need them.
Bob:
We’re both missing them a lot right now. We’ll just have to cuddle each other more.
“to see the Spanish Foreign Legion being holy in their tight pants and chest-baring shirts” — your religious devotion and piety are so commendable in this age of ungodliness, I must say.
Debra:
Well, I HAVE lived with a saint for nearly 45 years.
I have to say this- those penitents look evil. Are they trying to scare the devil away?
You no doubt will be seeing those very good rascally boys for a long time to come. How could you not? I realized yesterday that when I was working outside, I kept thinking I was seeing Maurice out of the corner of my eye and she’s still alive.
If the first few bars of that song don’t make you start moving your body you might as well give it up.
Ms. Moon
Ms. Moon:
I’m not shocked by the penitents like I was when we first moved to Spain, but I still find it strange and unsettling.
How do they make the hats stand up like that? Take time, and take care of yourselves. It is great to hear from you.
Viagra. Jx
Jon:
And dirty pictures.
David:
Easier to show you than to try to describe the construction: https://arcashop.es/complementos/364-capirote-nazareno-semana-santa.html?srsltid=AfmBOorZmGdbzfV_vCiAuChnikyAGK3FB3nA7os3bIHM8RCzhKbHu9Aw
Slow going here right now, but we’re managing.
There is something frightening and creepy, and at the same time hysterically funny, about those penitents. At one glance they look like demons on the loose, at another like extras from a Harry Potter movie.
wickedhamster:
You‘re so right. These three with their movements, had an especially cartoonish or sketch comedy appearance.
I just do not get the allure of worshipping a god that made being human a sin in and of itself and all that foolishness of devotion.
ellen abbott:
I try not to think too deeply when I’m viewing this.
Spanish Catholics sure know how to put the fun in dysfunction!
Tundra Bunny:
It’s fascinating and I find it often disturbing.
You caught me off guard with the photo of Moose. 🥲 Bittersweet. I think those first days of looking/listening for them are the worst. I’m glad you were able to find good homes for all their “stuff”.
Kelly:
We’re settling into life without them and it’s not easy.
The Spanish foreign legion sounds interesting…
Glad you were able to help others with the kitty paraphernalia. Always useful. It helps with the sense of too much space.
XOXO
Sixpence Nonethewiser:
Check out this link for a photo that will tell you why they’re so popular. https://www.prospectmagazine.co.uk/culture/40007/who-designed-these-uniformstom-of-finland-the-real-story-behind-these-viral-photos-of-spanish-soldiers
I love the comment “Who designed these uniforms – Tom of Finland?” Jx
Moose looks adorable in that picture. That’s the part of the boys to miss, along with their snuggling and playful antics. In all black with the church steeple hats, the penitents look as if they walked away from the set of a movie — maybe something associated with Star Wars or Satanic worship.
Love,
Janie
Janie:
I agree about that image of the penitents. Yes, we’re missing the boys a lot!
It’s almost hard to look at the picture of Moose….lying there so peaceful.
And there are those creepy costumed people again. I swear, they may want to rethink those ensembles.
Mistress Maddie:
Yeah, the photo brought tears to my eyes. I think the penitents should sue the KKK for cultural appropriation.
Those guys penitent in their costume is something else.
larrymuffin:
When we first arrived in Spain, I found it painfully unsettling. I’m used to it now, but it still does unsettle me a bit.
those pointy hat costumes constantly give me the willies.
Urspo:
I’ve adjusted to them over the years, but still don’t love them.