Tuesday, May 26, 2009

Tontas Tuesday May 26, 09 There's Good News and Bad News Tonight

Well, the good news is that Gambino's lovely daughter came out of her coma and Santiago is not only saved, he negotiates safety for his family and Patricio's family. The bad news? Paulina didn't get popped like we hoped. Oh well, it's a comedy. No real bloodshed, right? Not so far anyway.

So here's how it went (Just in case you got a big phone call during the show and missed all the drama.)

We begin with the big threat. Gambino's in Santiago's office, telling him if his daughter doesn't recover, nothing in the world can save the good doc. And evidently that goes for Hortensia and Eduardo too. They try and leave, pretending to be man and wife, and with a passel of kids waiting at home, but no dice. Nobody leaves until Gambino gives the word.

Santiago, meanwhile, is tenderly talking to the comatose patient. He gently tells her that he has a daughter her age as well, and if anything happened to her, he would be crazy with grief. She's a very special being and he and her dad both want her to get better. As he gently strokes her finger, she moves hers in response. Can you hear me? he asks, if you can... move your finger again. She does. Can you open your eyes? In spite of some very heavy eyelashes (I'm jealous) she does.

Bingo. Gambino goes in (after heading into an empty room first...a little suspense there) and reassures his daughter that she's going to be just fine. Happy ending no. 1.

Back to more mundane matters. Isabella is worried about Santiago. It doesn't make sense that he's been incommunicado all day. Donato tries to calm her down (no es para tanto= it will turn out to be nothing) but she's worried. So off they go together.

When they arrive at Meño's house there's still no word. Candy is out trolling the streets for her little guy. Santiago isn't with her. The mystery deepens. Mama Gregoria wants her to come home and eat before searching more but Candy won't hear of it. Well in that case, have faith, ask God for help and go to the Virgen as well. Good advice as it turns out. No sooner does Candy kneel at the feet of the Virgen, then she has a vision of Chava falling out of the treehouse and...Bob's your uncle! (a British expression) she finds him.

In the meantime, we have a little drama going on with Santiago and Gambino. Our Señor Mafioso is no longer concerned with Mario. What the good doctor did for him has no price, adds our grateful father. Here's a piece of paper, write down what you want me to pay you, he suggests. Santi writes a big fat zero. ¿Qué? That's right. He's a doctor. He saves lives. There's no cost for that. But what he does want is peace and safety for his family and for Patricio's family as well. "Ah, ya apareció el peine" (now it comes out!) smiles Gambino. But he concedes. From now on, he'll leave both families in peace. Happy ending no. 2.

Chayo and the sexy tutor arrive home to find Eduardo's table set for a romantic dinner (although the tutor qvetches that HE would have put out candles as well). But no Eduardo! Well, we shouldn't let this dinner go to waste, let's eat it ourselves, advises the little snake. Chayo looks conflicted but she goes ahead. Fortunately the soup poor Lalo slaved over is horrid. Neither one can really choke it down. Serves 'em right, sez I. For some reason, I like the little rat bastard Eduardo. Go ahead, throw tomatoes. I like him.

Santiago finally drags home. Let's not forget that he's been beaten badly, scared out of his wits, and performed major emergency surgery. Without giving any details, he admits he's had a horrible day and is bewildered when Donato tells him he found his cellphone under a chair. Our portly butler is also clamouring for an escalator in the house but Isabella tells him a diet would be a lot easier.

Outside in the playhouse, Rocio is putting arnica on Chava's wound while he winces and carries on a bit. (My new age friends always recommend arnica for all kinds of problems. I've never used it but it seems to be a favorite remedy south of the border.) Candy arrives, following her virgencita vision, and wants to take him home but the unrepentant little punk refuses, loudly shouting NO!!! After a brief hug from Santiago, Candy gets ready to do battle with her offspring.

We break for a short scene with Gambino and Arturo. The latter can hardly believe that Mr. Mafia is going to let him off the hook but the jefe assures him it's for real. He'll look for other associates, thanks to Dr. Santiago Lopez Carmona. They shake hands and it's a deal. Happy ending no. 3.

And now our poor Eduardo arrives home, having had a big scare himself to find, yowsa, the sexy tutor sitting in HIS chair, eating HIS soup, with HIS wife! Ay yi yi, our little doc is not having a good day. And let's not forget, it's been TWO weeks since he's had any lovin' from his beloved mujer. (I know, you're thinking the little rat bastard deserves that kind of punishment and more, but I can't help it...I like him.)

Gambino's having lots of conversations today. This one is with Paulina. A few kisses, a passing reference to philosophy and then the real goods...He has a question. What would she do if someone betrayed her? P- "Vengarme" (avenge myself) she quickly answers.G- Okay, and where did you bury Mario?P- I told you where, Lozano and I did it, per your orders. G- Fine, I'll see you tomorrow and you can help me pay back that person who betrayed me. Some ads come on and I suppose we're supposed to be worried about our little Paulina, but are we really?

Santiago and Candy have brought Chava home, dragging his heels all the way...until he sees Patricio. Then it's hugs and happiness and all kinds of joy. Candy looks like she swallowed a frog. But she finally asks Santiago about the cut on his face (she'd like to take care of him but maternal duty calls elsewhere) and he brushes off his tangle with Gambino as "I fought with 15. Killed two." There's a little teasing back and forth, he calls her "pilla pilla" (you rascal you!) and exits.

Upstairs Patricio's having a heart to heart with Chava, telling him how worried he was about him and asking him to never do it again. Chava, all cozy and nice with dad, asks forgiveness. When Candy enters, Patricio says they need to talk. You know a big confrontation is coming when you hear those words!

But the writers keep us waiting, switching us back to Eduardo, who's still bemoaning his busted romantic meal. He worked all day, slaved over the stove, burned himself and for what! to find another man in his chair eating his food, and let's not forget, no sex for the past two weeks. Chayo suggests a "do-over". But with different food this time.

Okay. Big storm building here. Candy sends Chava to his room and lights into Patricio big-time. How dare he imply that Chava is not safe with her! She's been mother and father to this child for 7 years, provided for him, been "pendiente" (devoted) to him, and Patricio has absolutely NO IDEA how she feels! For my son, I'm capable of anything! So this was Candy's big scene. Pretty intense. She pulled out all the stops and evidently it impressed Patricio. However, upstairs, Chava is being as much of a brat as ever. When Candy tells him no more running away, he smarts off and snarls that she can't make him live with Santiago. At this point, she decides to leave the rest of the discussion 'till morning. Probably a good idea. Otherwise real mayhem could occur.

But on to happier scenes. Arturo and Gregoria have met at a restaurant to "brindar" (toast) the happy ending. Arturo is off the hook with the mafiosos and Gregoria's grandson has been found. Happy ending no. 4.

And Patricio arrives home to find Alicia snacking again and pretending to be interested in Chava's welfare. You didn't care before, he snaps, and besides, I'm not in a very good mood. A- Oh, did you fight with my sister? What did the model mother say? P- You're right about one thing. She IS a model mother...the best mother there is. Pow! Take that Alicia. She looks like she's choking on her snack. I'd call this happy ending no. 5. Alicia deserves a little payback.

Santiago is having better parental luck with Rocio, up to a point. They've read a cozy little prince/princess "happily ever after" story even though he's sure she must be bored with the same old thing. Nope, and she's not bored telling him she loves him either. Awwww. But the mood shifts when he brings up the idea of a trip. With mom? No. With Chava and, er, Candy. No no no...won't go with Candy. No how. No way. Checkmate. Santiago is left muttering about "un par de nalgadas" (a couple of spankings) but we figure he's really not up to it.

No how. No way. That's Eduardo's evening also. When he bounces in the door with a pizza and big plans, he finds his wife asleep on the couch. Can't rouse her. Does pick her up and carry her off to bed, but one gets the impression there won't be a lot of action tonight. Poor baby. (Awright, kill me. I can't help it. I like the guy.) No happy ending here. Or is there?

Arturo, meanwhile, is giving Patricio the good news about Santiago saving not only his family but Patricio's from the menace of the mafioso. Pat looks conflicted. And puzzled.

Gregoria is trying to get Meño to drop the George Michael look but he's partial to his black leather jacket. The squabble could have gone on for a while but first he opens his bill and finds that horrors! that snake Christian has used his credit card number to order a ton of items over the phone. Meño's in debt up to his ears.

And Chava is up to his ears in bed. Won't come out from under the covers. He's in full rebellion against mom. She's losing her patience and losing her temper and telling him he'd better get up now "y de buenas!" (I mean it!)

And another mom seems to be in trouble. Gambino has brought Paulina up to a rooftop, ostensibly to "show her the city" but she isn't fooled. Something's up. Right, he knows she didn't kill Mario. And he's not going to forgive that, he adds, pulling out a gun.

Okay, who didn't want to see Paulina blown away? Granted, I'm not for violence but still..... However, our smart little witch, sensing that something was afoot, alerted the police and they're there to haul all the bad guys away. Hard to believe these guys are so easy to trap. Paulina must be better in bed than we suspected.

Patricio's still worried about Santiago but Arturo assures him the good doc is not involved in any illicit way with the mob. He saved Gambino's daughter's life and negotiated safe passage not only for his own family but for Patricio's as well. Now Arturo can retire, be peaceful and happy and live!!! Happy ending no. 6.

Patricio is remembering Candy's passionate defense and how she was "pendiente de todo"( took care of everything) and says to himself that she's an admirable woman. His mom catches him talking to himself and does a quick analysis of his feelings. He's remembering the adolescent Candy he fell in love with, but now he's dealing with a strong, mature woman. Motherhood will do that to you. Yes, all that's true, he concedes, but he's still worried about Chava. The little tyke is terribly unhappy at the prospect of his mother marrying Santiago. And it's killing Pato to see his son suffer.

Back to Meño. He finds Christian at his apartment and confronts him over the credit card bills. Our smarmy ratero denies everything (in a much deeper voice than he used before) and suddenly a protective woman emerges from the kitchen. And who is she? Why, Madeleine, his WIFE. Okay, did anyone else see that coming?

Our three little musketeers are at school and it's lunchtime. However that detestable little churl Chava refuses to eat his lunch. He's not touching anything his mom made. First, he demands Rocio's lunch. Nope. Then Beto's. Nope again. So he fights him for it.

While this is going on, Candy's consulting with Barb. She feels bad about taking a tough line with Chava but really!.....No, you have to be an authority figure, advises Barb. It's all very well to be affectionate and build up your child's self-esteem but you also need to "marcar limites" (set boundaries). Hear hear! Well, he's never been like this before, muses Candy. I think someone's getting to him....Alicia maybe, or Paulina.

The episode ends with Patricio arriving at Santiago's office saying one of our favorite phrases. WE NEED TO TALK.

Previews: Pretty scanty. Guess they're busy advertising the show to come. All we know is Patricio's telling Santiago that his son is suffering and papa ain't happy about it.

And must add, I started a lot of sentences with conjunctions tonight. A big grammar 'no-no" that was discussed over on the Mañana line. As the country song goes, " I ain't sad, I ain't sorry, and it'll probably happen again". Sorry grammarians, I just have a very casual writing style and I'm as unrepentant as Chava.

Vocabulary:
ya apareció el peine = lit. now the comb came out. Aha, now we get to the heart of the matter.
no va a ser para tanto = it's going to turn out to be nothing, no problem
brindar = to toast (as with a drink)
un par de nalgadas = a couple of spankings
y de buenas = for real now! or I mean it!
estar pendiente del niño = to be devoted to the child (Candy with Chava)
a estas alturas = by now, at this stage of the game
pilla, pilla! = you rascal you!
marcar limites = set boundaries

Dicho of the Day:
Dime con quién andas y te diré quién eres = lit. tell me who you go around with, and I'll tell you who you are. One is known by the company one keeps. (Take that Paulina!)

Labels:


Comments:
There were fifteen of them!!! That's also what Don Fernando said when he tangled with four thugs and a little old man had to rescue him. It's also was Grandpa from Rugrats said about virtually everything. Fifteen of them!

Now I'm off to watch the show.
 

Great job, Judy! I love how you find the theme running through the whole cap. Nice to have some good news tonight.

That was quite a defense of Chava that Candy mounted tonight, huh? But what did she call on as her justification? That she loves her son (Pat loves him too), that she wants to keep him, and that she's willing to do anything to keep him. But if she loves him so much, shouldn't there be something in there about Chava's best interest?

Has she ever considered what's best for Chava, in any of this? I'm not saying he's better off with Pat. Maybe he is, maybe he's not. But the question has never even figured into her equation. Just what Candy wants.

You have to wonder. The way she pampers him, showers him with kisses, gives him whatever he wants, treats him like the little emporer, ... Could it be that the first love of her life rejected her, and for the past eight years she's been terrified that the second love of her life will reject her too?
 

And I love it. Keep it up with the conjunctions!
 

For Pete's Sake! I was shocked about Christian. QTF? No I didn't see it coming. What a con!

And another surprise, Paulina getting the better of Gambino.

Nor was I expecting that the police would suddenly jump out to save Paulina. How did she know Gambino would take her to the roof?

But I guess I should know by now that nothing Paulina does should surprise us. She's as slippery as an eel.

Or maybe she's just lucky?

Yet again Chava "the little emperor" gets his way. I'm getting tired of his antics and it looks like the other kiddies are tiring of him too.

So when will Pat and Candy decide to join forces and put their collective feet down concerning their son?

Great recap Judy. Way to tie it all together!
 

Wow, what a memory Paula. Don Fernando AND Grandpa from Rugrats. Your mental file system must be even bigger than Herbert Hoover's was.

Tell us some more about your trip to Mexico some time. I liked your idea about the quarters also.
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Melinama, whew...glad it's okay to use conjunctions wherever. Ever since e.e.cummings, I've been happily breaking grammar rules left and right but that discussion on correct grammar got pretty heavy duty. A brief pang of guilt but it passed.
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Sylvia, glad I wasn't the only one totally blindsided by Christian's double life. Is he a con? Is he "bi"? Or is his wife about to get her heart broken? Time will tell. Or not...so many of these stories just fizzle out.
 

Paula, as you know, I'm no fan of Miss Candy, but in this case I'm going to cut her some slack. Here's why.....

As a parent, you know how hard it is to raise a child, even with both a mom and a dad. As a single mother, whew...I don't know how anyone does it.

As a parent, you also know how deeply it cuts when someone criticizes your parenting. It hits that raw nerve that's always vibrating and saying "you're not good enough, you're falling short, this is the most important job in the world and you're blowing it."
You know that nasty little voice don't you? I do.

And then when your own child turns against you and seems to prefer other parents, other homes...well, total devastation, no? And in moments like that, we flip to our "old brain". The savage part of our minds, the tooth and claw part, and we fight for WHAT'S OURS. Not saying it's enlightened or just or right.... simply that's how a normal, flawed human being/mother would react at that moment.
 

PS RECAPPER ALERT

I'M OUT OF TOWN NEXT WEEK (BABYSITTING GRANDCHILDREN). IF NO ONE CAN RECAP FOR ME, PAULA WILL POST A HEADING AND Y'ALL CAN JUST JUMP IN AND DISCUSS THE SHOW.

HOWEVER, IF ONE OF OUR BLOGGERS HAS BEEN DYING TO TRY A RECAP, HERE'S YOUR CHANCE!
 

Judy: A stellar recap. Not only were we treated to a fun and interesting narrative, we enjoyed fabulous vocabulary (also embedded), a great dicho, and finally, Judy's gems such as "Bob's your uncle" and "arnica" (which I'd never heard of) scatttered throughout.

It was good to have overall happy resolutions. Gambino's promise to leave the families alone is a huge relief.

Paulina needs to be held accountable for what she's done, but she will always be Ro's mother. So, for that reason, am relieved she didn't pay the ultimate price. Ro's suffered enough.

I admire the way Candy stood up to Pat, and I think he did too! I think it took a lot for her to get to that point. Paula, I like your comment that Candy (up to this point) may have been terrified she'd lose Chava too...but she may now have risen above that fear.

Pat finally sees Ali's true colors. She didn't even care enough to offer Pat any comfort when Chava was missing. What a _itch... Too bad she didn't get taken away with Gambino.

Chava, Chava, Chava, "that detestable little churl" :) Think he definitely needs un par de nalgadas. Reasoning isn't working at this point as he continues to act out.

I was also surprised at the Chris situation Judy and Sylvia. I think it may be a plot device to give closure to this storyline. Meño is too kindhearted to make a scene in front of Chris' wife so this will probably just stand as a cautionary tale about overspending.

Hoping there will be a little more romance, specifically, for Lulu.

Diana in MA
 

Good morning Diana. You're doing a stellar job yourself, amiga, incorporating new Spanish phrases into your comments. I love how you do that.

Certainly we need a PSA on maxing out credit cards, regardless of how the Christian side story resolves. Meño was maxed out before (several months back) and now has dug himself in even deeper. A financial column I read recently said it pains us to spend cash, or even write checks, but using a credit card doesn't seem "real" so we overspend. I've been charging all our groceries but am going to go back to paying cash and see if I can toe the line a little better. It's time to tighten the belt in my household! in more ways than one.

Have a great day Diana.
 

Judy - thanks for weaving in "Bob's Your Uncle"!! We've not heard that since our time in Outer East Anglia. One of many bloke "dichos" we learned. Also thanks for the recap and don't worry about how you start your sentences.

Agree with your request to Paula for mas, mas, y mucho mas on her trip to Mexico. Paula, ma'am, por favor?? Anybody else been down there that would share some stories and photos?

Candy's parenting: wouldn't she have been around 19 when the kid was born? Maybe immaturity has something to do with her treating him like a little Ken doll.
 

I use arnica; I think the stuff really works.

"Bob's your uncle" is a great phrase. A couple of years ago one of our local periodicals discussed the possible origins of the phrase and it's one of those things that can't be completely pinpointed. One of the possible origins was political and had to do with nepotism, hence since "Bob was your uncle" everything would be OK. That was just one theory though.

I would love to hear more about Paula's vacation too.

Diana, those are interesting theories surrounding Chris. I'm very curious as to how his tale will go. As you imply it will probably be a fizzler and credit card overspending, credit card theft, whatever, will be the quickie PSA.
 

Judy, thanks for that cheerful and funny as always recap done with your gentle yet acerbic wit. I'm very glad you like Lalo. He's one of those flawed yet lovable scamps that's impossible to stay angry with for long. I really don't care for Osvaldo. I think that he is the odious Fred all grownup with a more polished style of seduction.

As for Pau, I think that her best option at this point is to move to San Angelo. No one would suspect that anyone would want to go there, judging from what Mike has previously reported.

Carlos

Carlos
 

Osvaldo is very cute, however coming from a family of teachers (no, I am not one of them) I have a particular loathing toward teachers who take advantage of their position by going after students. Regardless of his intentions he should LAY OFF until Chayo is no longer his student.
 

By the way, I said that because that is how my parents taught me, that teachers need to hold themselves up to the highest standard, at least in front of the students.
 

Thank you Judy! I love your writing style. It's interesting and easy to read. Who cares about grammer anyway? I'm certainly no expert and prefer an interesting casual read over all.
I was surprised by the sudden appearence of the police. Was she working with them all along?
I yelled out, "shoot her!" when Gambino pulled out his gun.
She does more damage to Rocio than she does help and I say Rocio is better off without her.
"Bob's your uncle" was something I first heard uttered by Jack Sparrow in one of the Pirates movies.
I'm glad to see so many happy endings. Last night was one of my favorite episodes.
I too like Eduardo. I don't like what he's done but I think he's got a cute personality.
I was shocked at Chris being married. I'm guessing he may be bi but is first a crook out to steal and take advantage when he can.

Carrie L.
 

Carlos, glad you have a soft spot for Lalo also. I can't stay mad at people who are funny and I think he's funny. A character defect, I guess, but one I can't shake.

As for Osvaldo (thank you...can never remember names of characters I don't like) I was neutral until he suggested eating Lalo's painstakingly prepared meal. Scumbag alert! Glad the soup was sick-making.
 

Mike, Sylvia, Carrie....glad "Bob's your uncle!" resonated with you. For a few years I was hooked on British crime novels and that's where I came across it. Your "back stories" are far more interesting. The nepotism angle is intriguing...I love theories about where words and expressions come from. (Like that a lot more than grammar rules!)
 

Sylvia...we're all agreed, we want to hear more about PAULA'S TRIP TO MEXICO!!!!

And I'd like to hear more about your experiences with ARNICA. I'm terribly conservative and hidebound about any medication, pharmaceutical or homeopathic. But I'd love to hear more...do you use it as a topical treatment, like Rocio, or in pill form? And for what? (if that's not being too indiscreet?)
 

Carlos, that's an excellent suggestion!!

One can easily imagine "La Casa Paulina" nestled among the cottonwoods on the banks of the Rio Concho. She'd quickly become the wealthiest woman in Tom Green County with heavy trade on the military paydays and during the annual Fat Stock Show.

Plus it would be a "green" enterprise by eliminating the need for all those gas burning trips to Ciudad Acuña.

Hey, the entrepreneurial spirit lives! And, of course, I'm talking about a Mexican restaurant.
 

Judy, was it "Bob's your uncle, Fanny's your aunt" ???
I can hear Jack Sparrow's words echo in my head but I'm not sure if I'm mixing it up.
I love the British television series. I sometimes have a little trouble catching all the words but the humor is the type I enjoy!

Carrie L.
 

Okay, you twisted my arm.

You know how they say "as American as apple pie"? My boss's wife makes the best apple pie in three counties and has the ribbons to prove it, so I know apple pie. But would you believe it? The world's best apple pie is in Colonia Condesa in Mexico City? HONEST! I took one bite and it carried me off to Paradise. In fact, it was one of the five best foods I've had in my life. Who'd've thunk it?

At the restaurant where I ate it, the lunch was nothing special, just the dessert. And ceiling of the place was quite memorable. It had a hippy-style sun in the center, and faces at the four compass points: John Lennon, Jimi Hendrix, Bob Marley, and Beethoven!
 

Carlos, San Angelo indeed!! Mike took me there shortly after we were married - and I stayed with him!! However, I did, ummm, 'request' that we visit some other Texas garden spot, and quickly! Can't imagine anybody searching for Paulina there. Or in my hometown in West Virginia either, come to think of it...
 

Carrie, IIRC, ya gotta be careful using "Fanny" around the Brits... we were told that it means...ahem...ummm... womanly parts. One of our fellow Yanks yelled out the window for her daughter to get her little fanny in the house - to the great consternation of the Brit neighbors.

As Churchill said, Americans and Brits "are one race divided by a common language."
 

But Mike, does Pau have "big hair"? Don't you have to have big hair to succeed in SaNangelo?

I apologize for cutting off my head on the Mex pictures. I had some trouble last year with a woman on-line who was off her meds (literally, I suspect). She even called the place I maintain a mailbox, trying to get my home address. So I keep strict privacy rules for myself.
 

Wow, Paula! Next time you go to Mexico, can Mike and I tag along? You really do neat stuff. I'd travel a long way for good apple pie! All my WV aunts who made wonderful pie, and everything else, are all gone. And, that ceiling looks great. You can pick 'em, you go, girl!!
 

Paula, I think Big Hair's optional but all the better people have it. What's mandatory is a dirty F150 with empty "Beast" cans and a bald tire in the back.

Remember this is the town where I had to clean gas station latrines on the weekends. Still hurt that no one wanted to hear about that.

No sweat, GI. Understand about the need to maintain your privacy. But the pie sure looked tasty!
 

I really have a difficult time remembering characters who pop up and disappear without adding anything readily apparent to the to the overall storyline. Is it possible that Christian's wife was the lady who shook down Chayo? They would make a cute couple and it would add a little continuity.

Carlos
 

This comment has been removed by the author.
 

Grammar, schmammar, who cares? I like your style.

I also like Lalo...he's just so charming, and he's making a real effort to reform.

The snarking on Chava, "that detestable little churl," is delightful. Yeesh, what a brat. When Candy was dragging him away from the treehouse Santi looked like he wanted to jump in with some advice, but managed to refrain. Maybe he should offer to teach a parenting class at the Institute.
 

Goodness me...dusty Texas towns, Hell on earth for Paulina (oh gosh, Mike, sorry we didn't want details) and heavenly apple pie. I make a pretty good pie myself but limit it to birthdays for children or son-in-law since my husband's heart attack. Seeing that flaky crust though, sure did make me hungry.
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Carlos, I don't think Christian's wife is the same one who grifted Chayo but I honestly don't remember the face very well. Interesting theory though. And you could well be right.

And yes, Paulina's hair would have to be fluffed up immensely in order for her to fit in.
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Paula, yikes, to have a stalker already. Can't imagine. So sorry. Glad nothing came of it.
 

Julia...I agree. Santiago could certainly give some parenting classes at the Institute. He blends tenderness and strictness nicely. Holding the line but "keeping close". Always a balancing act. And right now, Chava does need a firm father figure, not just a fun playmate á la Pato.

Candy acts like a girlfriend, and indeed characterizes herself as Chava's "novia" and Pato is the perennial good buddy, always up for some fun. So where are Mom and Dad when you need 'em? Imagine we'll see some changes soon.
 

Thanks, Judy, for a terrific recap of an episode that shows us how easy it is for the writers to resolve just about any situation in two minutes. I loved the transition "up to his ears" which applied figuratively to Meno, but literally to Chava.

I almost thought they solved TOO many problems all at once. What's left? Then I remembered - Marissa! We haven't even seen her recently.

The kid who plays Chava is doing a great job of being a brat. I wonder what he's like in real life. Previously, he was just too perfect, but now he's gone to the other extreme. I do feel sorry for Candy, but it was interesting how she guessed that maybe there was a bad influence on Chava. Please, there has to be some payback for Paulina! She can't get away with all she's done.
 

Hi everyone,

It's been a long time since I posted or watched the show. So many changes since I last tuned in. The best, Cande finally took off the hideous headband! I'm so confused, the mafia, Paulina's back in town, who is that guy with Chayo, the guy with the bandage on his nose with Meno, are Charlie and Santi's niece still a couple (I've already forgot her name)?! I have a lot of catchin' up to do.

Thanks for the recaps. Hi to JudyB, PaulaH, Sylvia, Carlos..Have fun baby-sitting, Judy.
 

Hi Hombre and Violet. Good to hear from both of you. And yes, Hombre, we still have Marissa and the sad case of the missing (or rather misplaced) baby. I'm already wondering, Will Santiago keep the name Patito/Patricio once he finally renunites with his son? There's a question still to be answered.
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Violet...even though we sometimes grumble about nuthin' happening, there have been some developments.

Meño met Christian when the latter was managing some exotic male dancers who came to cavort with Candy, in front of Santiago. (don't ask...it was a stupid scene). Anyway, Meño was touched by Christian's seeming vulnerability "I'm new in town, no resources, yada yada yada" and took him under his wing. Christian milked it for all he could get....and that was quite a lot.

Osvaldo is Chayo's psych tutor. She's decided to go back to school. But the dual effort of working and studying is wrecking her home life and love life with Eduardo. Many folks would say, Serves him right after all his cheating, but I'm still rooting for them to be happily ever after.

However, a lawyer I know here in town always said, When a woman goes back to school, watch out, a divorce is in the offing. And sadly, I have seen that play out in many cases. Husband isn't getting the same amount of attention as he had previously, and next thing you know...he's finding it elsewhere. Yep, even here in the liberated US of A.

Sorry about your Celtics. Chances for the Cavaliers also look dim at this point. LeBron needs some more reliable teammates. Next year! (for us both).

Oh, and Charlie and Lucia are still in love with each other...but she doesn't want to admit it to herself. And doesn't want to be "un pareja" (a couple) anymore because of his AIDS status. She is being pursued by a slimy high school Casanova who just wants to add another notch to his belt, but so far, she has had the good sense to limit the romance to just kisses.
 

Thanks Judy for another recap in a nutshell. I will be watching faithfully from now. I'm sure the show is almost over.

Hey, I'm one of those old ladies going back to school. I had better be careful and pay some attention to my hubby or I'll be headed to divorce court. (I doubt it, been married for 32 years).

That's okay about the Celts, they won last year and that was wonderful. I hope Cleveland can do it, but you're right, one man a team does not make! Have fun in Charlotte. (at least I think that's where your grandchildren are)!
 

Shout out to Emilia...still thinking about dessert and wondering if you ever make pineapple upside-down cake in a black iron skillet?...or do you just use that skillet to bean big bad Mike?

I still remember my mom making that but alas, it's one of those traditions I didn't continue. She also made a wonderful pineapple sherbert (actually used whipping cream though), froze it in ordinary ice cube trays without dividers and it was to die for. I imagine everyone in our family had sky-high cholesterol but we didn't know it and were quite happy, thank you very much.
 

Yes, Violet, I think after 32 years that you are safe. Although another friend of mine, a woman lawyer, who has ended up handling a number of distraught Christian women being left by their husbands, says divorce is now happening more and more often after Golden Wedding Anniversaries. (I blame Viagra.)

Not with you, though. First of all, a guy has to love a woman who's a sports fan. The Good Lord didn't make too many of those. And besides, if he has any smarts at all, he'll stick with a woman who's a nurse. Most of us will end up nursing our husbands. Mine hasn't got any nursing home insurance (he knows I'll take care of him). I, on the other hand, pay my premiums faithfully every year, albeit while praying fervently that I'll never need to cash them in.
 

Hi Judy, I don't think I have ever made upside down cake. And I call myself a southerner!! We do make cornbread on top of sausage in the skillet, though. Topped with spinach, it's a good meal. Add banana pudding with Nilllas and you're definitely in the south!
And, yes, I keep my best skillet for Mike!! (Pobrecito!)
 

Oh yes, sherbert in the metal ice trays! Mom would put it in a bowl and beat it two or three times during the freezing process. Oh boy! Now I'm hungry!
 

You're killing me Emilia. Thank God I have to go off and teach class. Then maybe I'll have a big salad for dinner. Sigh.

I DO make cornbread with bacon. Just can't eat it any other way. Hoping that little bit doesn't put hubster back in the hospital. Never thought of combining it with spinach on top. Does that make it soggy?
 

Probably a little but that's the way Mike eats it. I like my spinach on the side...
 

You guys are making me hungry. Love cornbread, bacon; sherbert in ice trays sounds interesting. Never tried that one, but did have Kool-Aid in ice cube trays as a kid. I've never made or had an upside cake either, but always meant to. Someday....

Judy, you are too funny!
 

Pssst, hey Judy! Check this out:

http://www.weisenberger.com/index.cfm

It's driven by the South Fork of the Elkhorn. All their stuff is good! Check w/ mi esposa - she'll tell you.

Oh, yeah, spinach or good mixed greens on top of cornbread w/ some hot pepper vinegar. I could eat that stuff all day!
 

Say, aren't we having a Food Porn kind of day? We seem to go all over the place whenever there's a Genuine JudyB Recap, though today I blame Paula for the photo of the apple pie which seemed to start it all!
 

Greens and hot pepper vinegar, now you're talkin'. Mustard greens, dandelion greens, maybe some Swiss chard to soften the bitterness, but yeah, that takes me back to some good mama meals. Also loved her spoon bread with melted butter on top. Don't know how I made it to adulthood without serious heart problems. My relatives who stayed in the South DO have those, plus several dealt with adult onset diabetes. The greens were not to blame, however.
 

Interesting website, Mike. I don't usually do mixes. Just do up my own from recipes but it's a thought.

And Violet, yes, forgot to answer your question...grandchildren are indeed in Charlotte. And my son-in-law has learned to make awesome barbecue (now that we're talking food). Alas, he won't be around. Those silly kids are running off to the Bahamas leaving us old folks to mind the kids (not that I'm complaining, mind you.)
 

I bet you are an AWESOME gramma!
 

Judy B! Thank you! Really appreciate it since there was a little tif in our casa about the number of novelas I watch. Sheesh! What's wrong with two, especially when one is about to go off and has TMBMOE (The Most Beautiful Man on Earth) in it!

Anywho: thinking of my old school rearing and wanting to snatch a knot in Chavas assito! "It's all very well to be affectionate and build up your child's self-esteem but you also need to "marcar limites" Ya think?

Guess I'll be going back to You Tube! (Anybody know what chapter this is?)

Khalilah
 

Food Porn!? No way, Michael mio! This is highly respectful worship at the altar of home cookin'. But sure, let's blame Paula. She won't mind. The only thing that bugs her is when we call "Paulina" Paula. That DOES get her goat.

Which leads me to the next food discussion. Our Dispatch food section had a cover story on "goat" today..... the "new red meat." As our Columbus African population has grown, so has the demand for goat, but I believe our own Dr. Carlos loves roasting tender little goats over the grill. Supposedly it's healthier...for people, not the poor little cabritos.
 

I'm hungry and this chocolate chip cookie ain't cuttin' it!! I love love love cornbread. Sometimes I put chicharrones (aka cracklins) in it. I'm going to try it Emilia's way.

Judy, back to arnica for a moment. Somebody gave me the ointment back when I was in college and getting bruised up playing sports. Now I use it for bruises I get from sailing. It really does seem to help bruises heal more quickly.

Wish I had more time to chat on the subject of food porn, one of my favorites right up there with trashy telenovelas, but I've got to dash back to work.
 

Oh Khalilah...I am so sorry there was a tiff. My husband isn't at all interested in telenovelas but fortunately there are two tvs. Otherwise I'd be on short rations too.

But dang, yes, keep watching (albeit on youtube) and keep commenting. I always get a kick out of your reactions.

Paula knows what chapter we're on. I think she mentioned it in Monday's recap. But it may have been in an e-mail she sent me. I'll check and get back to you.
 

If you want to call me the culprit for food lust, I'll take the blame. Just don't call me late for dinner. Especially not Sunday dinner. Pork, sauerkraut (home cured, por supuesto que sí), and mashed potatoes, when the pork and kraut have been simmering all through church, and by the time you get home, you can smell it from all the way out in the driveway. If the Germans had ambrosia, that would be it!
 

Hot pepper vinegar? I have never heard of it, but it sounds delicious. Is it only a Southern thing and can be bought only there?
 

Khalilah....Paula said in her Monday recap that it was Capitulo 118 by Mexican numbering, 120 by US numbering. So try in that neighborhood and let us know if it works. So sorry you're restricted to youtube but I know of a Latina lady whose equally Latino husband won't let her watch ANY telenovelas.
 

Violet, hot pepper vinegar IS a Southern thing, but I believe you can get it in any large grocery store. And if you can't, you can always let the manager know you'd like to see it on the shelves.

And greens are for sure a Southern thing. I had a roommate from Minnesota once who stayed at the house once and was surprised (and somewhat alarmed) when my mama served kale (cooked with a little salt pork, naturally). "I believe this is what they call a 'working man's vegetable' isn't it?" she probed gently. Too funny. Her Scandinavian forebears were more the bread and pastry type I guess and ran a family bakery. Different strokes.
 

And now I've got to run off to class. Will have to turn the music up REAL LOUD to cover my stomach grumbling.
 

Violet, all I do is add dried cayennes or other dried chiles and put 'em in a bottle of brown cider vinegar. I've been using an old Grolsch beer bottle - the kind with the metal bail and ceramic stopper for this.

Probably best to snap off the stems from the chiles and crack the pod to let a few seeds out.

I think the Texas Pete brand has a vinegar w/ pale yellow green peppers but it's relatively bland.
 

Paula, I remember a restaurant in Germany where ham hocks were suspended over a fire pit and roasted. Talk about your German-Southern US Fusion cuisine!! I am convinced there is no such thing as a bad German meal.
 

Thanks, Mike. Will give it a try, and yes, I do know Grolsch beer. That's all we drank in St. Maarten years ago. Love those bottles.
 

All this talk...

Violet, I'd suggest starting w/ a pint bottle of cider vinegar and put maybe a dozen or so dried cayennes in it. Give it a week or so to develop its precious flavor.

Besides greens, it's good on a bowl of pinto beans w/ some fresh chopped onion and, of course, hot cornbread.
 

Aaaargh...made the mistake of coming back after changing into my work clothes and you guys have made me even hungrier!

At least when I get back from class I have some fresh salsa waiting for me with cilantro from my garden and Mexican garlic chopped, fresh-squeezed lime juice etc.

Mike, how nice that you're involved in cuisine along with Emilia. My husband used to make popcorn in the evening, but that was the extent of his culinary interest.

Nope, no bad German meals, no bad French meals and no bad Swiss meals. English meals on the other hand!.....
 

OK, now you guys are talking about one of my favorite subjects. As for greens, my absolute favorites, and has been since my earliest memories, are turnip greens. I was taught in Sunday school that Esau traded his birthright to Jacob for a mess of turnip greens. At the time, I had no problem with that as long as he had a bit of the pepper vinegar and maybe some cornbread to go with it. I also like Swiss chard and spinach(I can't tell the difference in taste) with a bit of hard-boiled egg. Just recently we had Swiss chard that I grew myself. I was so proud. I'm not so fond of mustard greens or collards, however. The 2nd Sunday in June is the Blazek family reunion, my Grandmother's people and there is always a lot of Southern as well as Czech delights. Aunt Dot,93 yrs. old always brings her homemade sauerkraut. We used to have BBQ baby goat until Uncle Bob(who owned a BBQ joint) died. I sure miss him.

Carlos
 

Here then, the Nuclear Option of fine Southern cuisine.

Bye bye, arteries!
 

Sounds easy and even I could probably handle making the vinegar. Now if I can find some cayennes!
 

Hey, none of you noticed that in my first comment I started practically every sentence with a conjunction!
 

Thanks for the recap Judy. Enjoy your grandchildren next week. This food conversation is great!! Though I don't cook often I do enjoying eating and those desserts sounded great.
 

Thanks, Judy B for the sympathy and capitulo number.

You guys are crackin' me up with the food conversations. I'll have to back track and see how it started. All I can say about goat is the only time some was cooked everybody else was REALLY excited. There was also much anticipation about the soup made out of the goat's head. Well. If the stank wasn't bad enough, when I looked in the pot and saw the eyeballs floating, I nearly hurled right into the pot! Didn't touch a crop, never will! EEEEEEYYYYuuuuuk! To each their own!

Khalilah
 

Khalilah, somehow that's... well, not appetizing.

But seriously, folks, has anyone had both goat and lamb and, if yes, is there much difference?
 

On the goat question...yikes, Khalilah, just reading your soup story made ME want to hurl. But I've had goat and it's fine. Less gamey than lamb so people say. We were at a baptism party for the child of Nigerian friends and goat was served. No problem. But there wasn't a head with startled eyeballs floating in the pot!

Carlos, ah yes, turnip greens. Forgot those. And if they're combined with tender little turnips straight from the garden, divine. I thought Jacob and Esau's mess of pottage was lentils, but hey, what do I know? Wasn't there. (as far as I know.... reincarnation is always an interesting question but mathmetically it doesn't compute, does it?)

Time to look for the salsa. Hey, one more comment and we can hit "70". Any takers.

AND..... Sylvia, thanks for starting all those sentences with a conjunction. Seemed so normal I didn't even notice.
 

Me, me, me!!
When I was a child, we mainly ate what my dad shot or pulled out of the river. Lots of squirrel and rabbit - we begged him to shoot a cow!! Never tasted goat or lamb, though.
Emilia, on Mike's page
 

Whew. Thanks Emilia. That number "69" hanging out there was making me nervous.

Good Lord, what does squirrel taste like? (Don't palm me off by saying "tastes like chicken") If my good dad were still alive, he could tell me. He put himself through school by various jobs including night watchman and rent collector but funds were short and food was scarce and I know once he shot a squirrel and roasted it over the fire in the fireplace. I don't think the experience was a good one though hunger is the best chef and he was one underfed guy.
 

Thanks, Judyb~~~Even though I only catch bits and pieces of this show, I love the comments you guys post. It always seems like a bunch of friends chatting about lots of interesting topics that ''include'' Tontas. Since Cap'n Sylvia visits this site, I have a seafaring question. Hub and I are setting sail for Bermuda on a cruise ship this summer, and we are considering taking some type of seasickness meds. Our daughter sent us on our one and only cruise [except for her wedding cruise which was only one night]. Hub [the ex Navy guy] got seasick on the cruise from NYC to Halifax [Hurricane Juan was pursuing us] , but I felt fine. I did feel a little wonky on the wedding cruise as we waited in an area with no windows before going into the diningroom , but the feeling passed after I had dinner. This is a 5-night cruise , so I don't want to take any chances. I have heard of Dramamime and Bonine...any recommendations?? Someone told me that Dramamime makes you drowsy , and I don't want to sleep through the cruise. Also, can you take the meds after you are feeling woozy are do you have to take them before boarding the ship??? [I don't take many meds except for vitamins.] Also, Cap'n and Judyb~~~After reading your comments about arnica, I was paging through an Yves Rocher catalog that I received today . This Canadian cosmetics company offers hand lotion and massage oil for hands and nails with arnica. The brochure notes that ''we use only non-endangered Arnica chamissonis for its protective regenerating and soothing properties.'' I've never tried it. On a final note, my mother made the best apple pies and apple dumplings I've ever tasted, and we ate the pie with vanilla ice cream sometimes. My mother always served the apple dumplings warm swimming in a bowl of milk. I've never had goat...and never want to have it. My rich aunt used to make rack of lamb when I was a little girl , and I ate it and liked it, but I no longer eat any baby animals. The college I went to served dreadful lamb that was really mutton...bleeech. Pork and sauerkraut is served by the PA. Dutch on New Year's Day for good luck. I hated it as a child , but I love it now. Hub doesn't like it, so I never make it, but my mother often served it.
 

Those squirrels were much bigger than the little 'yard squirrels' we have now so they must have been pretty meaty. My dad said they tasted mild, whatever that means. To feed 7 of us my mom and grandma had to fix a couple of 'em, along with gravy, biscuits, slaw, veggies, etc. I didn't like meat of any kind back then, except hamburgers and hot dogs, but I did like gravy so I didn't starve. The only gravy that wasn't good was venison - too gamey... Enough info??
--Emilia
 

Oh..one more thing...Miss Gracie Moore and my other grammar mentors taught me to only use conjunctions to join sentences. However, English grammar has been going down a slippery slope for quite awhile, and mant textbooks have sentences starting with conjunctions. In fact, the ESL reading books often have sentences starting with conjunctions , and commas are used incorrectly, too.
 

Hi Susanlynn...thanks for stopping by. I always love your stories...one of the reasons I try to never miss a Mañana blogday is'cause I know you'll be telling us something interesting or hysterically funny. Hope Sylvia checks in to answer your question. I've crossed the Atlantic on ocean liners but those ships were so big there was no way I could suffer from seasickness. And how great your kids gave you a cruise. You guys seem to be keeping the romance alive very well in drydock but a cruise can only make things better, right!? I know dramamine can make you drowsy but not so sleepy that you'd snooze through the whole thing. You'd have to stay away from booze though. Is that a problem?

Emilia...oh yeah, feeding 7 kids. Both my grandmothers did it and my paternal grandmother on very little income or food. Lots of clabber and "milk toast". No surprise that all the kids were lean in their youth.

The biscuits and gravy sound great.
Glad the squirrel was "mild". Guess I'll just have to wonder some more. I understand there are some survivalist folks who eat road kill but that kind of story just makes vegetarianism sound even more attractive!
 

As I recall, squirrel is less gamey than rabbit, but less meat so it's like eating chicken wings - lots of work for a small amount of meat. The problem was, my dad and brothers used a shotgun, so you would occasionally come across a pellet (not often). I dread to think how much lead I was exposed to, if they missed any shot before cooking it. All in all, I'd rather have a week of squirrel or rabbit over one meal of venison - NASTY!

Growing up, we'd usually have sauerkraut for New Year's. Some years stuffed pig stomach. I never touched the stomach itself but my dad and aunt were always happy to eat mine. The stuffing was very good though. Diced potatoes, sausage, celery, and coriander.

Judy, my dear, your first comment about my mental file system. Olvidalo! You labor under the delusion that I last watched that LFMB episode three years ago when it first aired. Ha, ha, ha, silly child!
 

I've had goat and lamb and I much prefer goat. Lamb tastes ...well muttony. Judy, in Pasadena, Texas in those days, I doubt that anyone knew what lentils are. Turnip greens we knew. I don't think I would have had the same empathy for Esau over lentils. I could picture young Jacob squatting in the field in front of a fire stirring his pot of turnip greens with little chunks of turnip and little bits of bacon. I could imagine trading something that I really, at 4 or5 had no firm concept of. Turnip greens I knew well. Carlos
 

Susanlynn, I can answer you later tonight. If you want to discuss in more detail offline please email me at sseaberg@gmail.com.
 

Carlos...Sounds like your Sunday School teacher or mama had the right approach. Turnip, of greens and wonderful little chunks of bacon it is!

Frankly, I never knew a thing about lentils until I started studying Pritikin in an effort to make my husband's diet healthier.

Of course French lentil soup would have lots of lovely, flavorful sausage in it. I could flavor it with onions and veggies, but sausage was out. And vegetarian sausage just isn't the same. Something about the texture...all wrong.

So what the heck. Pottage can be greens like you said. And if those old tribes could lay their hands on some cornbread, they'd be even happier, I'm sure.
 

Oh Sylvia...glad you checked in and thanks for giving your email to Susanlynn. But if you've got some great advice, share it here too. I often have students going off on cruises, even if I never do!
 

Hi again. Paula~~My mother never made pig stomach [that PA. Dutch delicacy], but my mother-in-law made it. When she made it for me, she just made the filling that goes into the stomach ...pork, sausage, lots of onions, and potatoes. She made it in a huge blue agate roast pan, and it was delicious. She also made boova shenkel [sp?] which is kind of a PA. Dutch pierogi...a dumpling filled with diced potatoes and onions . She boiled them in water and served them with butter. Yum. Alas, I make none of those dishes since I try to cook healthy foods for hub and me. Sylvia~I'll try to email you later. Thanks. Judyb~~Always nice to ''read'' you !! I am looking forward to romance on the high seas [sin seasickness]. We're going with our best friends. [Carol is my favorite dance partner besides hub. She, hub, and I went to school together ,so we've been dancing together for a looong time. I don't drink much [usually one whiskey sour for any festive occasion or dinner out.]
 

Judyb~~~My mother-in-law used the American Heart Assoc. cookbook after my father-in-law had his heart attack. She had to stop cooking using her PA. Dutch recipes which are heavy on butter, eggs, potatoes, red meat, and noodles [Ay-yi-yi]. She lost a lot of weight , but my dad-in-law cheated and gained. Have you tried Morningstar Veggie Burgers??? I love them. Hub won't eat them [He won't even try them.] , so he makes one for me and a hamburger pattie for himself. Try them. You might like them. They taste better than meat to me. My dad loved to plant turnips because all you do is scatter the seed on the earth and wait. My mother made the most delicious stew- diced turnips and potatoes and onions with pieces of pork...yummo.
 

My Mom was one of 13, Dad an only child. They grew up together in the south from the late 20s, 30s. .anywho you did what you had to do with all those mouths: I've heard stories of squirrel, rabbits, various wild birds along with chikens, ducks and the other usual livestock. Somehow they didn't do goat. Besides smell turning me off (don't know how in the heck people can fix their mouths to eat somethin' with the stench of chittlins!) when I was a little girl, I was horrified that they ate the same creatures that were the stars of all the nursery rhymes and cartoons. Barbaric! Hee hee! Grew up, still don't like 'em!

But I will take down a lamb in me a gyro, baby!

Khalilah
 

Those poor tribes couldn't have cornbread. Not until Columbus. Nor chiles nor coffee nor tomatoes not potatoes nor CHOCOLATE! All New World foods. No wonder they were fighting all the time! I know how grumpy my husband is without coffee, and how grumpy I am without chocolate.

Now, lentils, that's something I know about. When we were newlyweds with nothing to spare, I investigated beans and decided I liked lentils best (black beans are a close second). This recipe is my invention. Measurements are not exact. I serve it as a main dish. The consistency is like baked beans, NOT like soup.

1 lb lentils, sorted & rinsed
1 chopped onion
1 tbsp oil or bacon drippings (more if you're not on a diet)
water
salt
1 can stewed tomatoes
1 small can tomato sauce
meat (see below)
spice (see below)

Cook the lentils, onion, and oil in enough salted water to keep them covered, until almost done, about 30 minutes. Pour off most of they water until they are like watery baked beans. Add the tomato sauce, stewed tomatoes undrained, and seasoning. I LOVE garam masala in lentils (check the supermarket spice section) but you need to balance the bitterness with a little brown sugar. Or you could use cumin and some chili powder (or chipotle). You might try curry, although I never have. Or you could be lazy and pour in barbecue sauce until it is flavorful enough. Cook 10 minutes more for the flavors to blend.

The meat: I use 8-12 oz of bacon, fried off. I add it at the very end so it retains its full flavor. If you want to use sausage or ham or some such, you want to add it earlier.

The key is, lentils have their own wonderful flavor, so I don't like to mask it with too much seasoning.

One time I found green lentils at Trader Joe's. I'd never had them before. I made a big pot of lentils and ate three bowls! During the night, I thought my cat had left fleas in my bed - I coudn't stop itching. Finally I got up and discovered that I was covered with hives. Lesson learned: never again touch green lentils.
 

Susanlynn, re the "mal de mer", you might ask your doc for a scrip for scopolamine patches. Ginger can be helpful - ginger snap cookies or ginger ale are easy ways to partake. I'd recommend avoiding alcohol till you get acclimated.
 

Hola Susannlynn...yes, we eat MorningstarFarms, both the burgers and hot dogs. Also like BocaBurgers. But honestly, even though I toe the line at home, nothing taste as good to me as a real hunk of meat. A "good girl" on the outside, and a raving primitive on the inside, I guess.

Have to agree, though, that those heart healthy recipes will take the weight off. I always felt the American Heart Association diet was too lax. It allowed 30% fat in the diet, whereas Pritikin, Ornish and McDougall really argued effectively for only 10% fat. (Of course I cheated like mad so I was probably going on 30% anyway.)

Anyway, after this last stent procedure, we got more serious. And both lost about 14 pounds by being good. Amazingly, my left knee and right hip.... chronic problems, are no longer bothering me. What'll I do with all those Advil bottles? Hah. I'm sure with the passage of time, I'll have reason to use them again. Maybe even by next week after hauling my 30-pound Mighty Joe Jack baby around.
 

Susanlynn. Three little words. Red beet eggs.

Oh! And potato filling. And dried corn. And of course pot pie with homemade noodles. Still, nothing is as good as that sauerkraut dinner.

I took an AP cake to a potluck lunch at the Spanish language church I visit. Of course it was new to them, but anything a Mexican can eat with coffee suits him fine!
 

Khalilah...I don't think I could manage chitlin's either. But I ate brains and kidneys in France and never turned a hair. Just depends, I guess.

Paula, your lentil recipe sounds a lot like one I use (McDougall Heart Healthy recipe) that we eat like Sloppy Joes on whole wheat buns. No bacon but it's still yummy.

Or as Susanlynn aka Rachal Ray says....Yummo.
 

Paula...talking about New World foods, the Europeans I knew always laughed about us Americans eating corn. In Europe, corn was strictly food for the livestock, pigs in particular.

And those "red beet eggs" you mentioned. Are those the hard-boiled eggs you soak in pickled beet juice? My mother-in-law always made those in the summer when we visited her at the lake.

Those visits were always tension-filled, alas, but the eggs were wonderful.
 

Mike is right. Transderm scop patches work extremely well. As beans go I like 'em all . As a d butterbeans were my fave. You can't beat pinto beans and they're cheap. Right now I'm growing Italian bush beans which are incredible with new potatoes. Wow am I hungry! Carlos
 

I prefer jelly beans mostly!
 

Wow~~It's good that I had a big salad [lettuce, cucumber, tomatoes, and avocado] and ravioli with Hub's delish sauce because all this food talk would be making me hungry. Paula~~Some folks around here dried their own corn on screens, but even though my daddy grew acres of the most succulently delicious sweet corn [Silver Queen and Butter & Honey] , we only froze our corn. We bought Cope's dried corn in cans, and my dad liked it served with half and half. [He liked peas in half and half , too. He was tall and thin despite our meat and potatoes German diet probably because he worked as a toolmaker in addition to farming a 100 acre farm by himself. ] I love red beet eggs , but I'm too lazy to make them . After cooking every night for my family , I cook very simply now. In fact , hub often cooks or we just have sandwiches and salads. My grandma made the best homemade pot pie . I have her wooden board , but I use it strictly as a decor item in my livingroom. As for game, my dad hunted , so we often had pheasant which my mother always pawned off on my sister and me as ''chicken''. Then, one night, I bit into buckshot in my piece of ''chicken.'' I don't like venison, but many of my neighbors hunt deer and have freezers full of venison. Carlos and Mike~~~ Thanks for the name of the patch. The travel agent said something about a patch that you put behind your ear. Perhaps that's what she was referring to. Does it make you feel sleepy ? Meds often have a strong affect on me. I used to take Coricidin when I was a teen , and it really made me feel groggy and out of it. I didn't feel at all seasick even with the hurricane following us, but I hete to take a chance and ruin the fun.
 

Carlos~~~There is nothing as yummo as new potatoes. My dad also grew acres of potatoes. We had them everyday ...fried, homefried, baked, boiled, scalloped, mashed. The best fastnachts [Dutch doughnuts] were made with potato water . People around here also made potato candy at Easter, and Hub's grandma made the most delicious raised coffee cakes using potatoes. She would give us one every year when he did her income tax. In Dutch, potatoes are ''Grumberra'' [sp?] .
 

Susanlynn, Emilia got the Transderm Scop patch before our first big Amtrak trip a few years ago and had no problems with it. Turned out we had such a good time the patch was not really necessary, but I think mi esposa was grateful for the precautionary support.

Remembering some of the principles from my flying days - plenty of fluids to keep the inner canals sloshing properly. Coffee or tea - in moderation - can help, but especially plenty of plain water. Fresh air is helpful and avoid tobacco smoke. Stay mentally active and focused. Don't make any sudden movements of your head.

Cap'n Sylvia no doubt has some great ideas from her oceanic sailing.
 

The scopalamine patch sounds like a good idea. And I presume with a patch, rather than oral medication, that your liver doesn't have to process it. That should help a lot, Susanlynn. These days I can't even handle a drink. My liver looks up and says "What the H... am I supposed to do with this, woman!?"

Carlos, Carlos, I'm going to have to head for bed or I'll start eating again. Never a good idea this late at night. But my mom used to make great green beans, with pinto beans, and new potatoes. A wonderful combination. Of course the added bacon fat didn't hurt!...flavorwise, anyway.
 

And now Buenas Noches to all! I never watch Manaña until the next day. I can handle all the drama better in the daylight hours. Yeah, yeah...I'm a wuss.
 

Yep, red beet eggs are hard boiled, peeled eggs brined in pickled beet juice. If you buy the can of sliced beets instead of cooking them from scratch, it's a snap. The hardest part is peeling the eggs. Let them sit in the fridge at least 24 hours in the beet pickle. They look red before that, but they don't taste red yet.

And Su, how could I forget fastnachts? We dried our own corn on a kerosene stove in my grandmother's cellar (It's a hot job, in the hottest part of summer, so the cool of the cellar helped.) For years I thought corn gave off a funny kerosene-smell when it dried!
 

Hi all, I'm back again after a busy day at work and a nice dinner out with the girls.

On seasickness: over the years I have tried several drugs and I will list them in order of strength (as I perceive it, not based on medical knowledge)...1) Scopolamine patch - this affected me the most. It made me so drowsy I napped for about a day, hence I don't think I can ever use this sailing. However I am not very prone to seasickness and so for me it's overkill. I know many people who get terribly seasick and this is the only thing that works for them; 2) Dramamine (Dimenhydrinate) - this also makes me kind of sleepy so I generally don't take it. I think you will find this ingredient in some over-the-counter sleep aids; 3) Bonine (Meclizine) - I usually keep this over-the-counter medication on the boat for ocean races when I know there will be swells or big chop. For me this works well without making me too kooky or drowsy; 4) Stugeron (Cinnarizine) - this is my favorite but it is not approved by the FDA and is not available in the U.S. You may find it available on a non-US registered cruise ship in the drug store. For me a half of a 25 mg. tablet just before sailing works perfectly.

I guess you have to make your choice based on how susceptible you are to medication weighed against how prone you are to motion sickness. People who get seasick easily (my honey for example) should take their medication at least one hour before setting sail. Some people even recommend starting the night before.

On long sailing or boat/dive trips I ususally take one Bonine or one Stugeron at bedtime the night before we leave "just in case" then I am fine for the rest of the trip. I manage to keep a supply of Stugeron thanks to friends who travel. If I run out I revert to Bonine.

The strangest seasick experience I ever had was when I got off a small sailboat after two weeks I felt terribly seasick on land! The body is a funny thing.

I hope the above makes sense and sorry if I rambled.
 

Thanks Paula...for sure I'm going to be making a batch of those eggs before the summer's out. Even if Bob can't eat them, Andy and I can.

And Sylvia...thanks so much for the real life sailor advice on medication. I'm going to write down those names and keep them handy for whenever I'm asked. Straight from the sailor!
 

There are also a whole slew of non-drug type seasick cures...ginger, licorice, accupressure, etc. but I've never heard of any of them actually working. However that doesn't stop me from taking along a batch of chocolate covered candied ginger or a box of super gingery ginger snaps. Can't hurt!
 

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