La versión en español está después de la versión en inglés.
Our latest storm is called Storm Charles, like The Kid Brother. When I told him last night, he chuckled (appropriate since his nickname is Chuck and I have regularly called him Chuckles)! It’s due to hit full force later in the day, pushing Storm Bruna out of the way. It was pouring a bit ago but has eased into a light, steady rain. Severe wind warnings closed all parks and gardens at 3 today, including the zoo, the botanic gardens, and the gardens of the Alcázar (the royal palace). The wind hasn’t yet arrived.
Last night I told Storm Charles (the brother) that his first monthly money from us should finally be in his bank account this week (maybe already there). He muttered, “Good! About time.” I said, “You’re welcome.” He said, “Hnh.”
Then the storm that is my brother gave me a sweet smile and said, “Hey, how about some goodies?” I was surprised and replied, “Do I want goodies? Wow. That’s kind of you, Chuck. But it’s very expensive to send anything.”
He said, still smiling, ”No! What about me? You know…”
What was I thinking? “Oh, YOU want goodies? Like a delivery from Wegman’s?”
“That’s right.”
“Well, that’s not going to happen while we’re paying your cable bill and putting money in your account every month!” I then told him how much that ran to monthly and annually. He was impressed. I know that will discourage him from expecting anything else. For a few weeks at least.
A national strike is on today primarily in protest of the housing crisis. Activitists would like to see the elimination of tourist apartments, a crackdown on real estate speculation, and protection for renters. I’m on the side of the strikers. Average rents in Spain have nearly doubled since we arrived in 2011. In places like Fuengirola, they’re well over double and it’s near impossible to find anything long term even if you’ve got the money. And real estate prices have soared.
We had four flying insects clinging to our closed terrace windows for a few days. I thought they might be termites in their winged stage and managed to get some photos. When I looked it up, I was told it was a carpenter ant. I hope for our building’s sake they’re just passing through and needed a rest. They survived Bruna but Charles scared them off.
I misrepresented my dermatology appointment yesterday. Yes, the appointment was a pleasure, the medical student was dreamy, and it all went smoothly. However, the reason I have to go back is because I have something on my chest that looks to the dermatologist like a melanoma. I’ll be phoned to come in soon, and it will be removed and biopsied. Still, it was a very easy visit.
Nuestra tormenta más reciente se llama «Borrasca Charles», como mi hermano menor. Cuando se lo conté anoche, se rió entre dientes. Se espera que alcance su máxima intensidad más tarde hoy, desplazando a la tormenta Bruna. Hace un rato caía un aguacero, pero ahora ha amainado y ha quedado una lluvia ligera y constante. Debido a las alertas por vientos fuertes, hoy a las 15:00 horas se han cerrado todos los parques y jardines, incluidos el zoológico, el jardín botánico y los jardines del Alcázar (el palacio real). El viento aún no ha llegado.
Anoche le comenté a «Borrasca Charles» (el hermano) que su asignación mensual debería estar por fin en su cuenta bancaria esta semana (quizás ya esté ahí). Él murmuró: «¡Bien! Ya era hora». Le respondí: «De nada». Él contestó: «Hmph».
Entonces, la tormenta que es mi hermano me dedicó una dulce sonrisa y dijo: «Oye, ¿qué te parece si te envío algunas cosas ricas?». Me quedé sorprendida y respondí: «¿Que si quiero cosas ricas? ¡Vaya! Es un detalle por tu parte, Chuck. Pero enviar cualquier cosa resulta muy caro».
Él dijo, sin dejar de sonreír: «¡No! ¿Y qué hay de mí? Ya sabes…»
¿En qué estaría pensando yo? «¡Ah! ¿Tú quieres regalitos? ¿Como un envío de Wegman’s, por ejemplo?»
«Exacto».
«¡Pues eso no va a pasar mientras sigamos pagando tu factura de cable y depositando dinero en tu cuenta todos los meses!». Luego le dije a cuánto ascendía esa cantidad, tanto al mes como al año. Se quedó impresionado. Sé que eso hará que se le quiten las ganas de esperar cualquier otra cosa. Al menos durante unas semanas.
Hoy hay una huelga a nivel nacional, convocada principalmente en protesta por la crisis de la vivienda. Los activistas reclaman la eliminación de los apartamentos turísticos, medidas contundentes contra la especulación inmobiliaria y protección para los inquilinos. Yo apoyo a quienes participan en la huelga. En España, el precio medio del alquiler casi se ha duplicado desde que llegamos en 2011. En lugares como Fuengirola, la cifra es más del doble y resulta casi imposible encontrar algo para un alquiler de larga duración, incluso aunque se disponga del dinero necesario. Además, los precios de los inmuebles se han disparado.
Durante unos días, tuvimos cuatro insectos voladores aferrados a los cristales de nuestra terraza cerrada. Pensé que podrían ser termitas en su fase alada y logré sacarles algunas fotos. Al investigar un poco, me dijeron que se trataba de hormigas carpinteras. Por el bien del edificio, espero que solo estuvieran de paso y que simplemente necesitaran descansar. Sobrevivieron a Bruna, pero Charles las ahuyentó.
Ayer di una versión algo inexacta sobre mi cita con el dermatólogo. Es cierto que la consulta fue agradable, el estudiante de medicina era un encanto, y que todo transcurrió sin contratiempos. Sin embargo, el motivo por el que debo volver es que tengo algo en el pecho que, a ojos del dermatólogo, parece un melanoma. Me llamarán pronto para que regrese; me lo extirparán y le harán una biopsia. Aun así, fue una visita muy sencilla.
• Árbol de Navidad, miércoles por la mañana desde La Bandera. La foto principal de hoy muestra el árbol, en dos partes, el lunes por la tarde.
• ¿Hormiga carpintera?
• Desde la ventana del dormitorio, hace unos minutos.
Click the thumbnails to enlarge.
Haz clic en las miniaturas para ampliar.
Not to be the carpenter ant in the ointment here, but I don’t understand why your dermatologist didn’t just remove the suspicious spot then, instead of dicking around with something that’s not nearly as dangerous. With melanomas, time is of the essence. If it is found to be one, then further surgery is mandatory, with a wide excision to remove any cells that might have migrated.
TexasTrailerParkTrash:
I don’t know, but the last time I had something suspicious (which turned out to be nothing), the surgery was also scheduled for soon thereafter.
I rather like Strom Chuck, or even Storm Chuckles!
I wouldn’t know a carpenter ant from a regular ant if it weren’t for the tool belt.
Forgive my idiocy. I woke up with a massive head cold today and nothing is going right in my head.
Bob:
So sorry about the head cold. Hope it passes quickly. Despite that, you’re still pretty clever.
Housing prices are a huge struggle for a lot of people. In the US the average Social Security retirement benefit is less than $2,100 a month, and the average rent for a 1 bedroom apartment is about $1,700. For 25% of retirees, Social Security is 90% or more of their income.
David Godfrey:
I don’t know how some people manage to survive. The apartment we rented in Irvine before we moved to Spain 15 years ago was around $1,900/month at the time. It’s now nearly $4,000. Insane.
Oh, yikes. Nobody likes the M word. Let’s hope it’s something else. I assume that call will come quickly.
That kid brother is always a bundle of expectations, isn’t he? LOL
Steve:
Chuckles is 6 going on 90. Either way, it’s mostly about him. I had a suspected melanoma in 2022 that turned out to be nothing. Hoping is the same, but oh well if it’s not.
I knew a guy named Charles. Everybody in my group called him Charles. People he knew at work and other of his friends called him Chaz. I always thought that was pretty weird.
We had a day of rain yesterday, finally!, with thunder and lightning. Overcast and gloomy today but no water falling from the sky. Christmas crap is going up around here too.
ellen abbott:
Many of us are known buy different nicknames depending on the company we keep. I go from Mitchell to Mitch to Scoot.
He’s a cheeky beggar, that Storm Charles, isn’t he?!
The weather looks utterly foul, and totally unsuited to erecting that barbed-wire fence pole – sorry, Xmas tree!
Fingers crossed for the biopsy… Jx
Jon:
It was a wet and dreary day, but never amounted to what was anticipated. And, yeah, Storm Charles is something else!
I’m hoping for the best from the derma situation. That’s a worrying thing.
Chuck really doesn’t get that your $$ isn’t unlimited, and I admire your patience with his lack of gratitude, or it seems that way. Maybe he can’t express it well, though, there is that. Boud
Boud:
I regularly explain to Chuck that we don’t have a lot of money, but as far as he’s concerned we have more than he has and that’s all that matters. I know he’s grateful and I know he loves me. He is also like a child. Oh, to be 6 your entire life. (And, no, I know he has struggled all his life.)
I’ve long been curious about something… what exactly does a Wegman’s parcel of goodies contain that Chuck can’t buy at a local bodega?
Good luck with the biopsy, Scoot!
~~ Tundra
Tundra:
Nothing really that he can’t get himself but often doesn’t. I order ready made lunch salads, jars of cashews (expensive for his budget), pretzels, lemon and vanilla puddings, breakfast bars, bananas, gourmet cheese and fruit plates. Whatever I know he likes.
I, too, would like to know Chuck’s favorites from Wegman’s. I keep thinking of sending him a little goodie package at the holidays. I consider him a friend. 🙂
Jennifer
Jennifer:
He loves pretzels, ready made lunch salads (with chicken). Nothing he has to heat up or cook. Bananas, grapes (seedless), pears. He’s actually pretty easy to please. And YOU are an absolute angel.
The carpenter ant may be another reason to support the strike.
Kirk:
Maybe they were here for the strike!
Try not to worry about the whatever the dermatologist wants to remove and biopsy. This is why we go yearly, to catch things early.
As for Chuck- bless him. But mostly, bless you.
May the strikes prove to be productive.
Anonymous:
I’m truly not worried. Whatever it is will be taken care of and we’ll move on.
Chuck appreciates everything you guys do for him…….. just comes out a little jagged.
All that rain making up for all the heat in the summer. We have rain mixed with snow today on the way. It is November I guess.
Positive energy coming your way regarding the biopsy.
Jim:
Thanks. Not really worried about the biopsy. Whatever! Oh, Chuck, I relish our conversations.
When I bought my first house in Florida, the elderly woman I bought it from thought placing a new ant trap in the corner each month was sufficient pest control. I moved the stove out, and there was a wall of the spent traps behind it. I had an invasion of carpenter ants shortly after moving in and hired an exterminator. The worst was when I removed a piece of paneling from her “renovated” porch and a wall of ants poured out. It was awful.
Rade:
That WOULD be awful (and hideous). When we bought our house in San Diego, it was required to be tented (very common there). Other than that, we never had an experience with that. I remember termites at my parents’ house after we moved out in the early ’60s. They had no idea.