Climbing The Wall

Whether skies are gray and winds are blowing (like today) or skies are blue and winds are blowing (like yesterday), Moose greets us every single time we return home.

He flops on his side on the floor in the entryway and waits to get petted. He's taken to bracing himself to allow us to give him a powerful cuddle.

FEET PLANTED ON BASEBOARD.
(MOPBOARD, SKIRTING, RODAPIE... )

Which Was Not A Healthy Situation

My trip to the dentist Tuesday afternoon was a breeze — a much more gentle breeze than what blew off the sea all day; some of the wildest winds we've had. High surf this morning and still dramatic winds, although easing up.

I'll also ease up on the dramatics about my future dental appointments. Here's some drama of a different color.

I was a bit concerned last week when I saw what had been dropped off at the as-yet-unopened First Aid Station. (Click the images for a more thorough diagnosis.)

I SURE HOPE IT WASN'T AN EMERGENCY.

AND THIS WEEK ON THE BEACH OUTSIDE A LOCKED TOILET.

A WHILE LATER. SHOULD I BE WORRIED?

MY VIEW (IN MY HEAD) ON MY LAST PASS ... VAGUELY FAMILIAR.

And oh what happened then was rich...

Still Smiling

We were supposed to have our windows washed Monday morning. The glass curtain is fairly easily done, but I'm lazy. Anyway, the winds were blowing so hard (San Geraldo's ciclónicos) and rain was on the way, so we decided to delay. I went for a walk (a blow?) under blue and cloudy dramatic skies. I had little company. It then blew and rained all night and is supposed to be worse today.

To cap off the drama, I've got "the dentist" this afternoon. Except for a disaster in Washington DC in the mid-'80s when all four of my impacted wisdom teeth were pulled by a sadist, I've never had anything but cleanings. I've spent years bragging about how I love going to the dentist. When I was working, I would schedule my cleaning at the start of the work day and would then sit in the chair for an hour without having to do or say a thing. So much better than work. (And such a comfy chair.)

But those days are gone. I might even have to soon have a lower tooth or two pulled (too much bone exposed), which might result in my getting braces (brackets) and finally straightening my bottom teeth to my satisfaction (and maybe even the top ones, too). Still, I'm not looking forward to today's appointment — especially since it's scheduled for the afternoon, which makes me wonder what I should do about lunch. Yes, THIS is what I stew about.

(Click the images to see yesterday's lonely drama, and me with all my teeth.)

Who wants their teeth done by the Marquis de Sade? My Washington D.C. oral surgeon...

Cactus Flowers Hibiscus Moon

We've had flowers all winter but our plants seem to be ecstatic that spring is nearly here. Even the small cacti San Geraldo planted mid-February are covered with buds and blossoms. They'll dry out and remain where they are. I get pricked just looking at the things. The plants on the terrace have also been celebrating. Today they're aglow in the sunshine and protected behind our glass curtain from San Geraldo's (raging) cyclonic winds, and the rain that's expected to arrive later today and to linger all day tomorrow. (Click the images to see the beauty close-up.)

FEBRUARY 18, FRESHLY PLANTED.

MARCH 13, MAKING THEMSELVES AT HOME.

I REMOVED THE LINT (TOP RIGHT) WITH TWEEZERS.

THE LOWER (DRY) FLOWER WAS THERE WHEN WE BOUGHT IT.
I THOUGHT IT MIGHT BE FAKE.

THE COLLECTION OF HIBISCUS ON OUR TERRACE ARE OVERJOYED.

WITH BOUGAINVILLEA IN BACKGROUND.

AND CHECK OUT MY 'MOON SHOT' TAKEN LAST NIGHT!
AS I REPEATEDLY TELL SAN GERALDO, I LOVE MY NEW
CANON POWERSHOT SX720 HS WITH 40X OPTICAL ZOOM.

A New Philosophy

Dudo and Moose live by many simple philosophies. Here's one:

You move the meat, you lose the seat.

(Click the images and they'll take up more space.)

DUDO ON SAN GERALDO'S DESK CHAIR, WHICH HAD BEEN VACATED FOR ONE BRIEF MOMENT.
HE KNOWS EXACTLY WHAT HE'S DOING; JUST LOOK AT THAT SMILE.

MOOSE NOW NEEDS HALF THE SOFA, ONE CUSHION, AND TWO PILLOWS.
"I SURE HOPE YOU'RE NOT THINKING OF SITTING HERE!"

I like it!

Blister In The Sun

It's back to sandals weather and it's time for me to replace my two-year-old Ecco Offroad sandals. They're great for walking and hiking but the insoles have begun to split. So, if I go too far, I develop blisters.

Wednesday, I went too far. After an easy 10km (6-mile) walk in the sunshine, the bottom of my left foot resembled a bit of bubble wrap.

(Click the images and you'll understand why I kept on walking. And don't worry, the blister won't get any bigger although all the other images will.)

MILES FROM HOME.

SWAN IN DRY DOCK ON THE UNDER-RENOVATION FUENGIROLA RIVER.

STING WILL PERFORM AT SOHAIL CASTLE 17 JULY.
THERE ARE STILL 2 GOOD SEATS, TOGETHER, FOR ONLY €175 ... EACH.

DECAPITATED FLAMINGO. AT LEAST I ONLY HAD A BLISTER.

HEAD OVER HEELS... NO, WAIT... HEAD UNDER HEELS?

EVEN WITH THE BLISTER, BY THE END OF MY WALK,
I WAS OVER THE MOON... NO, WAIT... UNDER THE MOON!

"When I'm out walking, I strut my stuff..."

Something Clean

Question asked by San Geraldo while he worked on his latest New York Times crossword puzzle:

"Do we start with a clean PLATE or a clean SLATE?"

"Personally, I always start with a clean slate," I replied. "Starting with a clean plate could involve "cooking"!


Here's what our plates look like at Meson Salvador — before we clean them.
(Click the images to be completely "satisfied.")

PARILLADA (BARBECUE).
A COLLECTION OF MEATS FOR 2; COULD EASILY SERVE 4.

(COSTILLAS) RIBS.

CORDERO (LEG OF LAMB).

ALBONDIGAS (MEATBALLS).

BACALAO CON ROMERO (COD AND ROSEMARY)
ON A BED OF POTATO MOUSSE WITH GRILLED VEG.

TARTA DE QUESO (CHEESECAKE).
I AM A NEW YORK-STYLE CHEESECAKE PURIST NO LONGER.

TARTA DE CHOCOLATE FILLED WITH DULCE DE LECHE.

TARTA DE CHOCOLATE.
DESIGNED BY ADRIÁN FOR SAN GERALDO.

SOME OF THE MESON SALVADOR TEAM
CELEBRATING ALEJANDRO'S (2ND FROM LEFT) BIRTHDAY.

A clean slate can be good, too...

A Couple Of Feet

So, the 36th anniversary of the death of Big Sister Dale has passed. San Geraldo honored her by buying a box of "galletas de rellena de naranja" (soft biscuits filled with orange jam and covered in chocolate). Dale introduced me to these in 1970. She usually bought Pim's brand, but this Spanish version brought back the sweet memories just the same.

WE FINISHED THEM OFF IN ONE SITTING... JUST AS DALE WOULD HAVE DONE.

1954: LOOK AT MY EYES! MY REACTION TO THOSE CUSTOM FABRICS, PERHAPS?
OR MAYBE JUST MY SHOCK AT MISPLACING MY FEET.

Speaking of misplaced feet: Once Dale hit her teens, she began to train me in some basic social skills. For about a week before any party — wedding, bar mitzvah, school event — she'd drag me into her room every night, turn on her record player, and [try to] teach me to dance. The results weren't exceptional but the lessons were a joy.


Dale taught me dancing in a hurry...

For Breakfast Or For Acking-Snay

BANANA FUDGE CAKE.

San Geraldo's mother, Alice, had a dear friend named Sharon. Sharon was not a cook. Sharon was so much not a cook that I in comparison am Julia Child.

Sharon had Froot Loops for breakfast every morning. She called it her three servings of fruit.

I knew it was really only three servings of "froot."

Speaking of fruit servings, downstairs at BarBoru, Chef Robbie likes us to try out everything he bakes. It kind of, almost, defeats the purpose of my long walks. Or maybe it makes my long walks all the more important.

I've told Robbie he can't keep doing this to us. Sometimes he listens. But sometimes his baked goods include fruit and he explains that it's important to have several servings per day.

(Click the images for more fruit.)

STRAWBERRY CAKE (OR PIE OR SOMETHING).

APPLE TART. 

WALNUTS ARE VERY NUTRITIOUS.

APPLE PIE.

FRUITY CHEESECAKE.

CHOCOLATE IS A FRUIT, ISN'T IT?

Oot-fray Oops-lay...

The Pain Of Childbirth

Our friends Kathleen and Pedro (parents of 16-month-old Luke) were moving furniture out of an old apartment last week when Pedro hurt his back. It was so bad they ended up hiring someone to finish the work. It's been a few days and, although it's much better than it was, Pedro's back is still causing him some pain. We met for dinner last night and immediately noticed that he was moving stiffly.

"It feels like childbirth," he moaned.

LUKE: "YOU DID NOT JUST SAY THAT!"

"It's better than it was," Pedro had the nerve (balls?) to continue. "At first the pain was so bad I felt like I was giving birth to twins."

(Click the images to feel Pedro's pain.)

IT LOOKS EXACTLY LIKE CHILDBIRTH, DOESN'T IT?

A COUPLE OF WEEKS BEFORE LABOR.
(LUKE'S PHONY CAMERA SMILE.)

So glad, for Kathleen's sake, it wasn't Man Flu. I've heard that's even worse than childbirth.