Caray, Caray!

I was going to put Alonso and Lorena's engagement in the title but ye gods...those kisses were so tepid, I can't imagine this romance ever being consummated. On the other hand, the Mexican cooking prof/chef looks yummy and has that smoulder thing going on that we all like...right? Maybe HE can find Lorena's pilot light.

Anyway, back to the business at hand. Sara's naco family (her view) is there to take pictures. And how come Julian can afford a digital camera?! Those things are super expensive, believe me! Zully is nostalgic, thinking how she would have loved to go to a school like this if only her parents had had the money. Together she and Omar vow to pay for anything Sara needs here, to make up for all she...and they...have missed.

And" missing" is the theme of the day at Paula's house. Greta is laughing about their excellent adventure sneaking into the apartment and evading detection; but Paula is weeping, remembering how she loved and supported Dario unconditionally and then he threw her away like an old rag (viejo trapo).

We have that nice scene where Lorena discovers the HUGE floral arrangement (complete with teddy bear) that Alonso sent her and then...lo and behold, there he is at the window, emoting like mad. She's ready to run out and thank him but nasty Sara grabs her arm and says "no time, class is about to start". (By the way, for you Botox watchers, I scrutinized his forehead carefully all throughout the show...nothing moved. It's either Botox or he's developed the rest of his muscles to such an extent that the forehead is just plain exhausted.)

The first order of business is to elect a group representative to handle communications between staff and student. Who wants to apply.?..both Lorena and Sara. Surprise! Sara gives her smarmy little speech about caring about relationships etc. Then Lorena speaks about growing up in an orphanage with so many children, working in the kitchen and discovering her love of cooking, adding that she's patient, she knows how to listen and she'd love to work with them. Smiling faces all around. Then she adds sweetly, but if you elect Sara, that's great too 'cause she's my best friend. Sara looks like she's about to hurl, and of course, votes for herself.

Things aren't going well for Ickturo...turns out the Chinese company to which he gave all his money for the toy orders is a phantom operation and he's been had big-time. He's yelling at his secretary and saying "Are you telling me I'm an imbecile!?" She stutters that of course, no, she would never insult him like that. But hey, if the shoe fits!.....

Sara and Lorena leave the first class after Lorena is elected class representative, and even our dense little Lorena can tell Sara is pissed. Sara protests that she's not mad, she used to losing to Lorena. I've never been able to beat you, even the nuns loved you better. Lorena doesn't believe it....and besides, Sara is SO LUCKY....She has her family while Lorena has nobody. (Sorry Alonso). No sermons, snaps Sara. Besides I can't even enjoy them, they're forever fighting with my grandmother.

Said family is pretty happy at the moment. Omar has gotten his bank loan and after paying off the shop and the cars he intends to leave auto mechanics and seek work more in line with his profession. (And I've forgotten what that is.....anybody?) He wants to make his kids proud. Zully is all for that.

And our sweet Lorena is already making friends with the student who noticed her bouquet. She's a second-year student but she flunked Mexican Cooking so she'll be taking it again with Lorena. The teacher is a neurotic ogre...good-looking but mean as the devil. And if you come to class without your supply of knives you're done for!

Brief scene with Hortensia and Jaime but I'll merge two of them. She's noting that she suspended Jacqueline for a week; he's moaning about the past, wondering how his mother could do anything as awful as making off with Omar's baby. She's totally unrepentant and says she'd do the same today after seeing that revolting woman (Zulema). Jaime pleads that he only went along with it to try and gain her approval. He gets more sneers and the announcement that she can't stand his weakness.

Now to our gruesome twosome, Barbara and Arturo. She's shrieking at him for losing all that money. He doesn't like her attitude. Well, how can she be sympathetic with all that SHE'S going through. This woman is such a flaming, totally useless narcissist, she almost makes Sara look lovable. At least Sara has a job and can handle a computer.

Jaime storms out of the office after the scene with his mother and runs into Maruja who looks worried about him.

Back to happier people. Zulema is busily writing up catering orders and is so intent at first she doesn't notice that Vasco is there looking oh-so-fine. The suit and the ponytail are excellent in my opinion. Diana emerges from the bedroom looking equally hot and they both admire each other. Zulema notes that Vasco has a gleam in his eye in addition to the smooth outfit...Could it be love?

Hmm...next scene, not so happy. Valeria has come across her newspaper of house ads in her folder at work and is morosely ripping it to shreds. Dr. Alonso comes in and tries to pump her up. Never throw your dreams in the trash! Valeria sighs and says maybe later. Then Lorena arrives clutching her huge teddy bear floral arrangement. They do the googly-eyed bit. She looks sweet. He looks dazed and confused. (Very smooth forehead though).

Sara shows up at Chalo's, throws some magazines on the bed for his entertainment and gets chided for leaving him all alone. Hey, she's busy! He should get Lorena over here doing her Good Samaritain thing.

Back to our googly-eyed couple. Now they're murmuring sweet nothings...You're beautiful. You're handsome. I'll never doubt you again. (ANVIL ALERT)

A brief scene of Paula quietly crying (definitely preferable to her louder carrying on). Bettina wants to know if she found her keys...she did. Thank goodness, Dad would kill her if she lost them.

And for Dad, hey, things aren't going well in the Love Nest. We have a nice ceiling shot of his tatooed arm and muscular back (preferable to that jiggling chest of last night) but what's happened to his passionate lover? She's gone cold, worrying about the wedding plans, the honeymoon and whether or not Hortensia will use her time off as an excuse to fire her. And besides, that Thailand honeymoon!!...what's that about?! That's where he was going to go with that crazy ex-wife of his.

Well, he's always wanted to go there. And even though Paula was frugal and careful, they could never get enough money together to go. Frugal and careful!!!! and what am I?!!! a spendthrift!?
Dario does his manly usual...leaves the room saying he'll be back when she's over her snit.

Our next loving couple, Rossy and Julian, are having that what's-wrong-with-my-life talk. Julian is blaming himself for everything, the shop burning down, the ruined mayonnaise, the loss of clients. He's more "salado que un bacalao" (literally more salty than codfish, but meaning "totally jinxed") So what am I, chopped liver, snaps Rossy. No, no, you're the only good thing in my life, Julian quickly amends.

Sara's still working on Chalo, giving him a little peck..he wants a better kiss and gets it, wants more and doesn't get it...and she sets him up to call Lorena. Tell her you're doing badly and need her, she wheedles, stroking his thigh. (Don't you think that's pretty darn distracting?) But Chalo dutifully calls Lorena. Alas, her cell phone is out of network. Darn! She must be with Alonso!

And she is. They're in the car and she wants to go back to the park where they first kissed. More googly eyes and so-in-love-nonsense talk. C'mon, you're heard it all, you've said it yourself. I don't need to go into it do I? And then, playful child at heart that she is, Lorena wants to go on the slides. (Actually there's some Freudian symbolism here but I don't think I'll press the issue). They play happily and then he just can't wait any longer. He whips out.....(what did you think I was going to say?) the engagement ring, silly! " Don't tell me I'm going too fast, I want to start a family with you," he gasps. She accepts, the ring fits perfectly, the music swells to a crescendo but the kisses....honest to God, they're duds....tepid, tepid, tepid.

Okay, maybe those kisses are tepid 'cause Lorena's really scared. It's so important to be a wife and mother...but scary. She's lacked so much in her life, but hey...there are blessings too...and you Alonso are the greatest of these. More lovey-dovey nonsense and then Alonso's big scene...he gets to yell "Te amo te amo TE AMO" in full Gaviota style. There could have been some more tepid kisses after this, but honestly, I don't remember. Let's just say that all their kisses were forgettable.

Julian is still lamenting his lack of luck. He's so bad he scares black cats! When Rossy realizes she can't persuade him out of his funk with words, she whacks him a good one upside the head. Gotta love this girl.

Cranky old Sara is getting ready for bed in her naco house when naco mom comes bursting in and startles her. She wants to give her the raggedy old cooking book Omar gave her when they got married. Sara sniffs that she can tell it's been well-used, it's full of oil stains. Zulema, oblivious to the sneer, says it will come in handy for her courses. Not so. Sara is studying administration and finance. Well, then, it will be good for when you cook for your husband. This goes over like a lead balloon.

Things are going better at Alonso's house. He tells Dad he and Lorena are getting married. Dad proposes a toast with tequila, says all kind of nice things about his son, and then discreetly gets out of the way, saying he's going to visit a friend. Love's labor lost 'cause Lorena's not about to let things get out of hand with Alonso....that ring isn't a marriage license buddy! She pulls back after a few more tepid kisses, saying things are going too fast. Showing remarkable restraint, Alonso puts on some music and starts to dance with her. Even then, she pulls back a little.

We switch to Sara who's grumpily getting into bed, wondering how much longer she'll have to live in this pigsty.

Hmmm....back to our loving couple. Now they're at the window, staring at the rain streaming down the window, oh so symbolic of the first day they met and the instant and forever love they felt for each other. Alonso is getting steamed up again. Your gaze, your smile, your fragrance, he murmurs....I want to love you every night, I desire you so much.

No, no, no....we can't, Lorena gulps. Your dad might come back. My friend Rossy and Julian were caught by her mom. Whew...she sure knows how to make a guy feel loved, doesn't she?

Back at Mama Maruja's, it's just Rossy and mom now, settling down to watch a game snow called Night of Geniuses. One of the next categories is going to be soccer. And who knows more about soccer but our Julian? If only they could build up his self-esteem, maybe he could go on the show and win a lot of money.

From low self-esteem to more of same. Arturo is in his jammies, drinking and wondering how to get out of his latest disaster. Valeria comes out and makes the mistake of asking how business is going. Snarls. Bleachedblondeharlotmom emerges, chides Valeria for not giving hubby a moment's peace and then sits down, pours him another drink and says "poor baby, you're probably missing your honey, right?"

And Paula is missing the happy days of her past. But discreetly. She's really not annoying in this episode. She's looking at her wedding pictures and Bettina notices how pretty mom was, and Dad, handsome in the suit bought with the money Paula got at her bachelorette party. We didn't have a penny, Mama confides, but we were happy because we had each other.

Lorena and Alonso are now chastely looking at family pictures as well. (This guy has the patience of a saint!) She's admiring one of him at age 4 and that leads to dreams of having children together. She wants a little boy like him. He wants a little Lorena like her...no, not one, thousands!

And now another couple, Vasco and Diana are returning from the office party. Exchange of compliments. You were the prettiest one there...and who would have thought you'd be the life of the party. She counters with And you were such a great dancer! Mmmm...we can hear the hormones humming as he hesitantly moves in for a kiss. It's one-sided. He kisses her. Her lips just lie there. She steps back, looking worried and dashes in the house. He looks worried too...and sighs. Man, that was a baaaad kiss!

And yet another couple. Jaime and the unbearably screechy Barbara are going at is...word-wise. I just want to cut this woman's vocal cords! Seriously! He's not getting out of bed, not going to work. She's tries to flog him out of it. He tells her to leave him in peace.

At Casa Pobre, Diana HAS gotten out of bed, and very early too. She's left for work before Vasco is up. Not looking good, dude. Omar and Julian are off on errands and then Julian plans to come back to help Zulema with her food deliveries. Not to worry, chaste Lorena is coming over to help her.

Hortensia is shuffling papers at the office, musing that she thought she'd miss Jacqui but she doesn't. Sara is all over being helpful and turning in graphs on client orders, how often a year the orders come, profits, etc. Still, Hortensia, no fool, muses that Jacqui is faithful and loyal. Sara, on the other hand, is wildly ambitious and who knows how far she would go to get what she wants.

Lorena and Zulema has finished the deliveries and now, happily, Lorena has enough money to buy the knives she needs for cooking class. When Zulema hears of this, she wants to make sure they can get them for Sara also if she needs them.

Screechy Barbara, not content with reaming out Jaime, is still harping at Arturo, wondering how in the world he could invest all his money in a scam operation. When she finally whines that she would help him "if she could", he suggests finding him a spot in his mother-in-law's operation. But goodness...what post could he fill?...maybe that of her husband? Well, since he's doing it in other ways, why not?

Okay, back at cooking school, Lorena's being offered a "calm your nerves snack" from her new second year buddy before the cooking class with the ogre. Friend is rushing off to the bathroom and Lorena, terrorized, is in such a hurry to get to class, she barges through the crowd, knocking into a fellow who asks her "what's the hurry". She explains about the class she's going to and the demon who teaches it is unforgiving of lateness. Really? He's going there too. Well hurry for heaven's sake!..... the teacher is a real crank!

Hey, we know where this is going but they tease us a little bit by switching back to the clinic where Alonso and Valeria are talking in the office.

Bruno comes in, learns that Lorena and Alonso have made up and sneers, Well at least something is going well for you. Then he tells him he has to take another doctor's patients (who's on vacation) as well as handling his own. But hey, Alonso can do the work of ten! And what will YOU be doing?, snaps Valeria. I'll be meeting with the engineers about some medical equipment, frowns Bruno. After he stomps out, Valeria confides that she can bear him less every day. He has delusions of grandeur just like her husband.

And now our final scene. Lorena sits down, looks up and realizes that the fellow she bumped into is....yikes...actually the professor himself. And hot, hot, hot! Things are looking up, ladies.

And he's also "hot "as in mad, annoyed, cranky. He docks Lorena's friend two points for being late, and gives a tough little talk about how he's not here to teach them to be cooks, he's here to teach them to be exceptional chefs. And some of you aren't up to the task, he adds, looking meaningfully at little Lorena.

The End. Well, not really, we've got months to go. And frankly, now I'm getting interested. This potential romance has a lot more interest for me than the lukewarm relationship going on with poor ,dazed, overworked Alonso. So hey! on with el show.

VOCABULARY

dar el ancho en cualquier puesto = to be able to handle any job (what grandiose Arturo says to Barbara)

más salado que un bacalao = literally "more salty than a codfish" but meaning "really jinxed"

devoluciones = returns, or meaning "no going back". What happy Don Toribio said when Alonso and Lorena reconciled and got engaged

resbaladilla = playground slide

el alma de la fiesta = life of the party

Labels: enemiga