Tuesday, December 01, 2009

Gancho Tuesday Dec. 1, '09 The Bun's Still In The Oven But Can Beto Keep It There?

Well, another great night of hijinks, 80-mile an hour conversations, good laughs, a few smiles and a wince or two. Our layabout Beto showed he can be high energy and amazingly persistent when it comes to protecting his own. And our lovely Ximena and Estrella both came a-cropper in their romantic pursuits...but looked divine doing it. Jackie put Jerry to the ultimate man-test ("Can-you-afford-me?") but he failed miserably. And Rolu is now on our all-world, non-rotating, absolute eternal sh*t list for breaking Ximena's heart (and enjoying it, the swine). But other than that, not much happened.

Ah c'mon, you know I'll tell you more than that. Here's how it went. First a brief review of pathetic would-be seducer Jeronimo snatching the crumbs off Jackie's plate while she slyly beckons the waiter to take it away. But wait, while they're at the mall, let's go shopping! Jerry looks like he's the one with morning sickness.

And Beto and Connie are engaged in the first of many discussions over the planned abortion when Mauricio comes back to fetch Dany's backpack and demands to know why Beto's there. Our barrio boy comes up with a weak story about stopping by to get permission to get off work this morning. He needs extra practice so he can deal with that new pipsqueak (cabeza de pepita) luchador. No. You can't go. If you do, you're fired. Train on your lunch hour or not at all. Well, the boss is always right, no? mutters Beto. Have a verrrrrry nice day, coos Connie to Mauricio and Mau coos back... may yours be lousy. Whoa! That got a smile from Beto, but for the most part, our layabout was intense and serious throughout all the episode.

And equally serious is our Estrellita, all dolled up and ready to tuck herself into the Furia's hip pocket until Don Cesar tosses her out of the gym. Well, can't blame him. Every male within 10 kilometers appears to be buzzing 'round our little star and he can't have that in his gym. If she absolutely has to make a play for the new luchador, let her do it outside. "Esta muñeca ya tiene dueño" (This doll's already taken) she huskily tells the drooling assemblage and off she flounces, as only Estrella can. After she leaves, Cesar admonishes Monita...Please don't bring her to the gym, at least not dressed like that. Moni just smiles and goes back to punching the bag.

Connie and Beto are still going at it hammer and tongs. Don't do it. It's my choice and I will. Repeat these two lines a zillion times and you have half the episode. Still they play their parts well. Beto hops in the car when she insists on going to the hospital. You'll lose your job, she threatens. So what! snarls Beto. The fight continues although both carefully fasten their seat belts. ( Thanks for the PSA folks. In Columbus, we just had a lovely young high school couple die this weekend because their seat belts weren't fastened.)

Okay. Back to Estrella's seduction attempt. Our Masked Man arrives on his motorcycle and she goes right to work, telling him how great he looks and moving into his personal space, waaaaay in. He nearly blows his cover but saying he knows she's an actress. But he smooths it over by saying Cesar told him. Well, baby, don't ask Cesar. Ask me. I can tell you so much more, she purrs, moving in again and kissing him on his masked cheek. Let's have coffee afterwards, okay?

Poor Mau stumbles in the gym, and there's smiling Monita, pleading Estrella's cause as well. I know she seems half-crazy, but really she's pure gold, Moni wheedles, and she's crazy about you. Mau, who's not swift enough to get out of these tight places himself, asks for Cesar's aid. I'm in a real "quilombo" (mess) he pleads. "Lio de faldas" (woman trouble), right? mutters Cesar, don't worry, I'll take care of it.

After the ads, we come back to more woman trouble, of the" señorita enfermera" kind. Ximena is hovering anxiously by Rolu's bed as our sexy nurses ministers to his every whim. Xime doesn't know why they need a nurse, she can take care of him. Sweetie, smiles Rolu, She's trained. You're not. And you look overwhelmed and tired. I want you to have some fun. Relax. Go shopping with Lalo, or go see your friends, he nobly suggests. I'm "muy bien atendido" (very well taken care of....) Well, I am dying to see Estrella, she admits. And with a fast zip up of the nursey's open uniform, our little gal exits. And the zipper comes right back down. Oh no. Oh dear. Oh crap.

The Beto/Constancia struggle continues. His lines. Her lines. Doctor arrives. Beto bleats some more. Connie elbows him in the chest and exits with the doctor.

Mientras tanto, Jackie is effectively emasculating Jeronimo. Dangling an expensive diamond necklace before him, she suggests this would be a nice way of showing a woman the depth and breadth of your affection. Jerry thinks the price is a little high. This isn't a roadside stall where you haggle, she sniffs, and I thought you said you weren't "tacaño" (cheap). Well, just now my credit cards are "al tope" (maxed out), stammers Jerry. But you're a millionaire like Mau. Actually I have to split my salary 50-50 with Oscar, he admits, but I WILL get all Mau's money, I promise. No you won't, she cuts him off. My daughter will get it. And suddenly Jackie has urgent business elsewhere.

Now Connie's in her hospital gown, all prepped for surgery, clutching a magazine in her hands while the "no lo hagas" "si, lo hago" battle continues. Beto flings himself in the wheelchair meant for her. The doc and his assistant bust him out of the chair and he then flings himself against the door. Only Connie threatening to call Monita gets him to step aside. Wow, who is this Monita? mutters the doctor, impressed with the power of the threat. They manage to get her to surgery but Beto still has his nose pressed against the closing door. NO LO HAGAS!!...NO LO HAGAS!!....

Let's break for a little girl talk. Ximena is unburdening herself of three things: 1) married life is demanding and sometimes overwhelming (amen sistah) 2) but my husband doesn't object to my going out and seeing friends (not today anyway) and 3) Oh, Estrella, I've been dying to see you!
And Estrella is dying to talk about her new Masked Fury crush. Ooooh, you remind me of me! shrieks Ximena...at least of me the way I used to be, she adds wistfully. Our relationship has cooled off since the wedding, she continues. Well, even before the wedding. So Estrella, as an experienced woman, I need some tips for the art of seduction.

The upshot of all this is that Ximena will tame down Estrella's look so she doesn't appear so "facilonga" (easy and cheap) and in turn Xime will jack up her own appearance so she fits in the can't-miss-vixen category. Deal? Deal.

Back to Beto. He crashes into the room clothed in a surgical gown and the righteous robe of a husband who refuses to let his wife abort their child. First he flings himself on top of Connie. Then when security is called, he fends off the two goons, races around the room, hurls equipment hither and yon, and in short, brings about total and complete chaos, screaming I love you! Don't do it! all the while. Whadda guy.

We catch our collective breath during the ads and come back to girl time. Shopping. Sleek and sophisticated for Estrella. Swishy for Ximena. Facial masks. Hairdo's (straightening for Estrella, wild and free for Xime). Make-up. Muted lips for our actress, bright red and moist for Ximena.

Seduction attempt no. 1 about to start. Estrella slinks into the gym, looking classy but sexy and the luchadores are baying at the moon all over again. Even Don Cesar is impressed by the new look, to Nieves' annoyance. She may look decent on the outside, but it's the same old slut on the inside, she snaps. Estrella, undeterred, is ready to vamp off with our masked galan when Cesar saves the day by suggesting they ALL go out for some tacos. That takes all the twinkle out of our little star, but she bravely soldiers on.

As does Ximena, arriving at the apartment in full fantasy seduction no. 2 mode. She's halfway there, all by herself, humming" seducción, seducción...yeah, baby, oh ohoh..." and slinking up the stairs. Let the games begin.

Oops. Seems like they started without her. Sexy enfermera, clearly unzipped, is in bed with Rolu. What medical procedure is this? Even Ximena not fooled. " Auch!" she wails, "qué onda?" Indeed.

Let's leave this painful scene for another: the continuing War of the Roses between Beto and Connie. She's in full fury mode, having had to delay the abortion, and paying for a boatload of equipment damaged by our rampaging sperm-donor. She delivers an impassioned purse whipping , all the while berating him for interfering with all her hard work to land Mauricio. And for what!? So she can live a life of misery and limitation with Beto!? I can give you more, he argues. I can teach you to fight. I can be there for my child, unlike my father who was never there for me. A child can change our lives. And I love you. I love you like no one else could. And I know you love me. Connie says nothing. But she looks troubled. Is there hope for our cold-hearted, calculating wench? Stay tuned.

Back to the bedroom of betrayal. Rolu's doing the time-honored "are you gonna believe me or your lyin' eyes" bit. What nurse? he asks. She left hours ago. The moving mass under the covers begs otherwise. I'm suffocating, sniffs our nurse. Rolu is still maintaining that Xime's hallucinating, when our señorita hops out, heads for the wrong door (That's the bathroom! shrieks Xime)" and...you're fired!" Exit the nurse.

Moving on. Why cling to the past? continues Rolu smoothly. Live in the present. Get over yourself. And give me a little space will you? I'm exhausted. You're draining me drop by drop. Poor defeated and thoroughly bamboozled Ximena leaves. And Rolu grins gleefully. String him up by his manly parts! This macho creep is dead to us!

Constancia is also pleading for a little alone time. She wants Beto to vamoose and give her some time to think. Well, here's the deal, he retorts. If you get rid of the baby, you will lose me forever. Even though I love you and want to eat you up with kisses (she looks wistful), we're finished if you have end this pregnancy. Don't dramatize, she counters, I'm going to take care of my body and MY business. Monita was right, he finishes. You don't love me or anybody. And sooner or later you destroy us all. Exit Beto.

Another recovery period during the ads, all encouraging us to have that perfect Christmas with gifts galore at the lowest possible prices evah!

And we return to the restaurant where a masked Mau, a snippy Nieves, a crestfallen Estrella and a bemused Cesar and Monita are all having a not-so-great time. Mau doesn't want to eat 'cause he'd had to take off his mask. Estrella and Nieves plead for him to do just that. Cesar saves the day again by saying the new luchador has to keep his identity secret. Well, Nieves is riled up with him, masked or no, after that whipping he gave her little criatura. Furia excuses himself, while Nieves sneers that he must think he's a saint off to save the world. Enough! snaps Cesar. And Monita watches him go with a look and a smile that seems to say she's smitten with the new mystery man. Estrella sarcastically thanks everyone for messing up her first date and Nieves concludes by saying "he's hiding something". " Yeah, his face", quips Cesar.

More ads. The breaks come more and more frequently as this goes along. Have you noticed? More Christmas pornography for shopaholics.

And then we come back to sweet Aldo and Katja, scheming on how to find the goods on Beto and Constancia. They decide to go down to the barrio and enlist Ivan's help. Luisa shows up and enthusiastically joins the group. Protective big bro' Aldo is not pleased.

Connie's quest for alone time has come a-cropper again. This time Mom Jackie is on her case. Mom's lines. Connie's lines. Why waste the best years of your life with a man who doesn't love you? Then a new take. Why don't you want to be happy? Let's go to Europe together. You can have the baby. And after that I'll introduce you to my friends. The right sort. Good-looking. Rich. Divorce Mauricio and take all his money, Jackie concludes. And who comes in at just that moment? Mauricio. End of episode.

Previews:
Mauricio agrees to the divorce. She can have his money. All he needs is Monita. But wait! Connie is still scheming. I'll give you a divorce, she sniffles, but give me one night together. Make love to me and leave me with a memory. Uh oh...you know where this is leading.

Vocabulary:
cabeza de pepita = lit. seed head. fig. pipsqueak
esta muñeca ya tiene dueño = this doll's taken
lio de faldas = lit. skirt trouble fig. woman trouble
quilombo = mess (also whorehouse, but not in this context)
muy bien atendido = very well taken care of (and how! Rolu, you swine)
tacaño= cheap
precios fijos = set prices, not subject to haggling
al tope =to the limit, to the brim, "maxed out"
facilonga = easy, cheap, a pushover

Dicho of the Day

Ser la gota que derramó el vaso = to be the last straw
I picked this because I hope that dreadful bedroom scene was the last straw for Ximena and she throws the bum out. We shall see.

Labels:


Comments:
Judy, wow, what a good job. You seem a bit prickly tonight. Christmas pornography? We'll crafted! Jero certainly did look queasy when Jacqui announced the desire to shop.

Connie and Beto. Those scenes, especially that in the OR, were special. The OR scene was delightful. In the OR one is so careful not to touch, brush against, back into anything. There is always a vigilant circulating nurse who seems to revel in a voice that can be heard out at the scrub sinks,"Dr. you just contaminated your right glove and the instruments on this table!" Imagine my glee at seeing the melee that took place tonight. pure gold!

Ximena and Rolu. Honey, pack his bags and set his sorry butt at the street. What a creeps-inducing rodent. I had hopes for him until yesterday when I started to cool. If Ximena unceremoniously dumped Costeño for not sharing musical tastes, this should certainly be a no-brainer for her.

The make-overs? I liked the old Ximena and the original Estrella just fine, thank you very much. Next!

Doesn't it seem that we suddenly are seeing more and more of Estrella? Has the producer realized what a phenomenon he has on his hands?

Carlos
 

Well done Judy! Thank you for minimizing the he said/she said of Beto and Coni's conversation. That's the joy of recapping, we don't have to repeat all the reptitions.

I think I have a crush on Beto. I haven't seen that much focused energy since Benjamin Braddock stormed the wedding chapel.

Carlos, how fun to get your unique perspective on Beto's OR swath of destruction. What was it that the Doctor was trying so hard to protect?

Rolu...BAH!!!! I think it's time for him to take another flying leap.

I thought the Estrella/Xime makeover section was a hoot. I think the girls will find that they are most beautiful when they are being themselves.

Judy, I couldn't agree with you more regarding the Christmas ads. We will be barraged from now until the holidays. On the up side, we will most likely see a lot of the Obama Chia Head which should be amusing.

I really like tonight's dicho. It is totally appropriate for that load Rolu. Jerk.
 

Whoops...I guess my Grinch slipped through on the Christmas ads quip. What bothers me the most is that they focus on women (and a lot of us are people pleasers, let's admit it) and imply that if you just get this this and that, plus some more of x and a lot of y, that you will make your husband happy, your kids delirious with joy and you'll all have that shining, warm, love-filled family you dreamed of.

I'd knock myself out shopping (and in December was usually dealing with a heavy cold as well), and spend hours wrapping and decorating. Do a lot of food prep on Christmas Eve and then creep out of bed at dawn to set everything up, fill the stockings,light the candles, set the coffee and breakfast going and have soft Christmas music playing on the tape player. And when the kids were little it was pretty nice, except my husband didn't want to get up when the kids did and would just lie there with the blanket over his head trying to ignore it all.

And when sulky adolescence hit, I really began to ask myself, "Why am I doing this?"

But I shouldn't be cranky because I have many friends, and one of my daughters, who truly love to shop. And they do a great job of picking out wonderful things for people. I just don't have the knack.

I've learned I have to show my love for my family in other ways. And not focus so much on one holiday but seek a way to do it every day or as often as possible. But those ads trigger that same bleak disappointment I often felt at Christmas, after seeing most of my effort fall flat.

Yikes, you guys should be charging me therapist rates!
 

Hmm...now that that rant is off my chest, on to other things. Carlos, your perspective on the OR is giving me a retro-scene jolt of delight. And I can just hear that sharp voice saying "Dr., you just contaminated your right glove and the instruments on this table!" Dun de dun dun.

Let me join you in saying I love the extra scenes with Estrella also. From the very first promos, when she showed us her trademark flounce-exit, I've found her delightful.

And Sylvia, I'm thinking paternity is going to be the trampoline that finally bounces Beto into maturity. We know he smells like a man but maybe now he can rar' up and act like one too. Will be interesting to see. I'm liking this actor more and more.

In fact this telenovela is an excellent showcase for all the actors. They've written funny parts for all the peripheral characters, each with their "signature" phrases and tag lines, and instead of being annoying, it's delightful. Haven't tired of this show one bit, even if I am Miss Crankypants at Christmas.
 

Oh yes. Oh dear. Perfection!

Fast, furious and fabulous from the best title ever, definitely sbw (side bar worthy) through the spot-on recap and astounding vocabulary list and dicho.

So many wonderful lines Judy but my favorites were "our barrio boy" and of course the cry (which I will second) to "string him up by his manly parts". Loved the comment you posted on Beto that "We know he smells like a man but maybe now he can rar' up and act like one too." Excellent!

So enjoy seing Jackie toying with Jero. Seeing Rolu hurt our Ximena? Unforgiveable. He's done.

Last night made me want to book a full day spa treatment. Ximena and Estrella looked like they were having a wonderful time. The results were spectacular although they are both fresh and beautiful as they are. I was a little confused by Ximena's Raggedy Ann striped tights.

So glad Beto saved the day (well, at least the moment). I enjoyed your background on what really goes on in the OR Carlos. Again, you must capture these stories - a book is a necessity.

Sylvia, your Benjamin Braddock reference was inspired. You aren't alone, I admit to a strong liking and definite fascination with Beto.

Interesting how all the sub-plots and side-stories are taking center stage. Mau and Moni who?

Missing Ivan, glad to see he's slated to return.

Diana
 

Hah..those Raggedy Anne tights didn't really scream seduction, did they? Well we know nothing Xime could do would work but Estrella's sleek transformation seemed a mite bit better than hers.

I'm really finding the Don Cesar/Nieves coupling amusing. Especially their bicker/ bicker bit (Anybody remember the radio program the Bickersons?) as Cesar noted Estrella's glamour and Nieves seethed about Señor Masked Fury. Sure hope the actors are having as much fun doing this as we are watching it.
 

I think my favorite moment last night was when Ximena quietly reached over and zipped the nurses dress. Eloquent without a word being said.

Sylvia, I think the equipment that they were being so protective of was the electro-cautery unit. Not exactly sure why, however. What a hilarios scene. I hope some OR personnel got to watch that. They will probably have nightmaares about it for days.

Carlos
 

I love all of your comments! About the xmas shopping. Rolo is just no good. He needs his butt thrown out! He likes hurting her! What a ass he is! Connie and Beto should be together, but that may not even be his kid, Does he know that she slept with Jero, I think he walked in on them, when he was in his underwear!
Anyway I hope connie and beto get together. If mau falls for connie's trick he really is asking for it!

reb
 

Well, since we ALL agree that Ximena must move on from the irredeemable Rolu (may he get caught in his own zipper!!!!)whom do we see (no grammar discussions!) as a viable prospect.

I sense strong opinion that Tano is too tame for our wild fresa. So must we await a total newcomer? Or is there hope for exotic Costeño to go another round?

She prefers Estrella to Constanza as a friend. So clearly, barrio origins are no problem. In fact that's a telenovela staple. Bit I don't see a real prospect out there for her. Still, it's early days yet. How many months do you all figure we have to go?
 

I think we have about 17 or so weeks left.

Love interest for Xime? Hmmm...she has fallen for practically anyone who hasn't fallen head over heels for her. Maybe now that Tano is more aloof he might be more interesting to her? I still kind of have hopes for those two.

I think Beto will forgive Coni practically anything except getting rid of their child. He hasn't got much of a leg to stand on when it comes to the infidelity department.
 

Judy what a fantastic recap and wow you really have an opinion about all that advertising on christmas. In my family we just buy small presents for each other, nothing too fancy and I think we put the same decorations and tree every year, but we always go to the house of one of my uncles on my mother's side for christmas dinner with the whole family, it's the only place that can fit all of us now that most of my counsins have children. Four generations having dinner is quite chaotic sometimes so that's our main source of christmas anxiety.

My favorite part of Beto's rant was when he told Constanza that he wanted more with her, he wanted "TODO".

I thought Estrella looked great with the new style but they purposely made Ximena's look a bit strange. I think this was the first time Xime raised her voice and I loved how Veronica Jaspeado kept her acting in character while at the same time she gave a more dramatic portrayal.

For some reason I find Mau very cute on his Furia Enmascarada outfit. I just want to go and hug him every time he shows up on screen as a luchador.

Reb - Coni's baby is Beto's, she made the math on monday when she was with Ximena and realized that six weeks ago she was still with him in New York.

Moni and Mau are taking a backseat but I think that's good because we had alot of them in the first episodes and as much as I like them what is making this telenovela work is how they can flesh out the other characteres keep us interested because they are really great too. It doesn't even feel like 114 episodes have passed.

Jarocha
 

Thanks, Judy, for another rip-roaring, rollicking recap. You also filled in all the little gaps of things I wasn't sure about.

I enjoyed the twin makeovers. I liked them both before, and I like them both now. It's funny how they always make the hair long and straight to raise the status of someone. Same thing happened in Yo Soy Betty La Fea, and a bunch of other novelas.

Beto really is persistent. I couldn't fathom how he was going to do it, but a combination of wildness, pleading, and then a threat to leave seem to have done the trick. Connie even admitted to Jackie she was confundida, whereas before she was decidida (I think that's a word).

But the previews! Mau just cannot, cannot, cannot give in to Connie's request for one night of amor. Please, Mau, use that brain (whatever there is of it).
 

Jarocha, I wanted to ask what kind of accent Mau is using as La Furia Enmascarada. It sounded to me like Argentinian, with all those shh's for ya and yo. It sounded like sha lo se, instead of ya lo se.
 

Hi Rebecca, Jarocha, Hombre and Sylvia...thanks for the time line. 17 weeks. Well great. That will take us through the long gray damp Ohio winter. It will be terrific to have this brightly colored story to look forward to five nights a week.

Well, Rebecca...you know we're all with you 100 per cent. Throw da bum out!!!! But will she? Sometimes love can not only be blind but incredibly stubborn. We shall see.

Jarocha, sounds like your family has a good plan for keeping Christmas simple but heartfelt. My family of origin kept it simple but my husband's mom loved Christmas and went at it with a gusto that was amazing. Acres of cookies and candy, a mountain of presents, every door, window and wall decorated with Christmas ornaments, many of which she had made herself. But by Christmas she was always exhausted, too revved up and the evening always ended in tears. I really came to dread those get-togethers. However there was one Christmas at our house, I was so distraught, I actually put Jack Daniels in my morning coffee. (and normally I don't drink). After three cups all was right with the world. (don't worry, never did it again).
 

Hombre, I enjoyed your remark about the hair because the same perception exists here...in some quarters anyway. My eldest daughter had abundant curly hair. In the 80's, she was truly something to behold, a real traffic stopper. Enough hair for three or four people. However, working as a financial analyst, she was encouraged to tone it down. When she had it straightened, she was praised for looking "more professional". And somehow, with motherhood and the chronic exhaustion it can bring, her hair has thinned and even when it's not straight, it's no longer the abundant harvest it used to be.

Ah well, even the youth of our children is fleeting. My son's hair is thinning on top and every time I look at it, I feel a gazillion years older. What happened to my babies and what have you done with them!?
 

Oh, and Hombre, good call on the accent. Jarocha will have to confirm it for us, but the writers do seem to have fun with the different speaking styles they're throwing at us. Perfect for us Spanish students!
 

Hombre: you are right about Mau's accent, he was using an argentinian accent for his scenes as Furia. Rulli is actually argentinian but he has been living in México so long (and he is now a naturalized Mexican citizen) that, according to what he said in an interview, it was a bit hard for him to go back to his original accent.

Judy: yikes, at least you could relax a little with your coffee. Your mother in law sounds quite the perfectionist but I bet her house looked fantastic.

Jarocha
 

Although my taste in decor was really different from that of my mother-in-law, I was in awe of the energy she could put into the holiday every year. She would start purchasing presents in September (for all her friends in social groups as well) and have all 200 of her handwritten Christmas cards mailed by the end of November. Just amazing.

And interesting about Sebastian Rulli's Argentinian background and the accent. You are a great source of info' amiga. Thank you.
 

Judy, I totally agree with you about the holiday advertising. It's the same way I feel about jewelry advertising all year round, which is part of the reason I don't like jewelry.

All the witty gems in your recaps, however, I love, and you do indeed earn my undying affection for providing them.

Rolu is totally dead to me, now that he has broken my beloved Ximena. May his dreamy eyes and smile rot in a sewer.

There's still time for a new character to appear and make Ximi's dreams come true, right? Tano just doesn't seem to interest her much.

The giant bug walking around in a trench coat is just too funny.
 

Ah, you've put your finger on what I found so unsettling last night...yes, a great big muscular praying mantis in a trench coat. The stuff of pesadillas. Along with the non-stop humor, the writers and producers have gifted us with a lot of amazing costumes.
 

Julia, while I join with everyone here in despising Rolu, I cannot believe that he has broken her her. Her spirit is simply too indomitable for that. If there was ever a resilient character in these shows, it is she. I'm expecting, no, counting on, creative, clever revenge from our favorite free spirit. Of course he will always have his wonderful tattoo to remind him of her, I'll bet she comes up with something very special for this noxious insect.

Judy, JD in coffee on Christmas morn? Sounds like something that has potential as a Christmas tradition.

Carlos
 

You know, it was darned good, Carlos. And when I told the whole horrible story to one of my aerobics classes, the next year they presented me with a beautiful handmade Christmas stocking, filled with airline containers of booze, aspirin and instant coffee packets. I still laugh when I think about it. (And laughter is even better than booze...with no hangover!)
 

Oh, I think Ximena will triumph in the end, but still, what a blow.

Judy, your aerobics class sounds like such a fun group. I hope you won't need the booze this year.

I'm glad my family doesn't really get into the presents hoopla. Partly I think this is because anything we want, we buy for ourselves whenever, but also it's just not the point of the holiday. Often we would go skiing on Christmas. Christmas morning is the BEST time to ski...there are hardly any people on the mountain.

My grandmother, however, doesn't think it's Christmas unless there are HEAPS of presents and sugary fattening foods, so the years we were at her house for the holiday were completely different, and usually less satisfying.
 

Carlos, re Goodson's Cafe, you bet I'd like to eat there some time. I remember some great barbecue joints around Austin. Curiously, Austin in now way resembles San Angelo. The Goodson's Cafes of America have become a vanishing breed and we are poorer for our largely homogenized American commercial landscape.

But the real question for you, Good Sir, is: what do you do when your glove gets contaminated in mid-procedure? I'm guessing a shot of Lysol spray isn't the "A" answer.

Elaine!! Er, Sylvia, good point about Beto's resemblance to Benjamin Braddock.

Ximena and Estrella really looked pretty after the haircuts - until the application of the coal tar by-products to those nice faces. Why oh why did they have to do that?

Rolu: yes, very much a vain, spoiled brat. Ladies, go get your skillets now. The line forms to the left. But, if I remember correctly, he resisted Ximena's advances rather ardently and vocally before the fall that put him in the body cast. Even so she had him tattooed (maimed) w/o his consent; rolled him in his body cast to the church (abduction, if not kidnapping); and despite knowing his eye signals allowed the priest to conduct the wedding ceremony (fraud).

So I do sincerely hope that Ximena will produce a loud popping sound by getting her pretty head out of a dark and stinky place, acknowledge the "marriage" is a sham and both of them will go their separate ways.

Who instead for Ximena? Don't know. Pretty and charming and funny. Also immature and irresponsible and therefore not ready for a real marriage. Largely the same goes for Rolu.

Judy, aka Miss Christmas Crankypants - a girl from Forks of Elkhorn ought to be taking a taste of Woodford Reserve, though Jack Daniels is a fine product in its own right. But I do take your point about what Christmas has become. The deal Emilia and I worked out a long time ago is that she cooks Thanksgiving and I cook Christmas. Standing rib roasts are so cool. Put 'em in the oven, wait a couple of hours and bask in the praise of "oh, Mike, what did you do to the roast?" I mean, I think that's praise... Isn't it?
 

Mike, you're cracking me up today:

...bask in the praise of "oh, Mike, what did you do to the roast?" I mean, I think that's praise... Isn't it?

Uh...yeah.

I did my internship at Brackenridge Hospital (Austin"s city/county hospital in 1969/70 and a favorite place for BBQ (there are several very good BBQ places in Austin) was/is The Salt Lick located out Bee Cave Rd. A bit of a drive, located in a dry county (they encouraged you to bring a cooler of beer), but some of the best, most succulent BBQ ever. This may very well be the place you mention.

Goodson's was originally located by the tracks and owned and operated by the former cook whom every one called Ma Goodson. She was always there and would check every table, chiding those (adults and children) who were not eating their veggies.

Carlos
 

Way to go, Judy, I loved it. Thanks for leaving out Beto and Coni's dialog. It would have been easy, just copy and paste, copy and paste!

It's hard to think of Christmas yet... We still have two birthdays to get through. One on the 10th and one on the 11th. The kids never wanted Christmas, stuff around until after their birthdays. So it's still a little early for us to get too deeply into Christmas.

If anybody's insulted by the comments made by that rude clown I married (he does my typing for me and brings me tea in bed sometimes, too), just let me know and I will make his life truly a living hell.

I have thanked him for his typing and directed him to include my thanks in this note. Finally, after 36 years, he is, I suppose, partially trained.
 

Not exactly what I asked him to type, but, oh well...

I had a slight focus issue, so that's why I asked him to finish up for me. Also, I was fixing him some pork chop quesadillas for his supper. When the skillet cools off....
 

Well dinner sounds great Emilia. And you might hurt that skillet by hitting Mike's hard hard head.

Mike, I have very limited knowledge of spirits. I imagine my brother (a much wilder guy...at least before his heart attack) would know Woodson Reserve. Since my dad was from Pulaski, Tenn and we lived in Lawrenceburg when I was 8, Jack Daniels seemed like a worthy choice. "Irish coffee" without the whipped cream, I guess you could say.

And yes, Julia, my aerobics class is a hoot. One year I got a black fur thong for a present! And noooo, there was no back story to go with that.

Carlos, your barbecue joint sounds divine. My son-in-law has become a great lover of barbecue since moving to North Carolina, and I love what he cooks up on the grill for us. And NOW I'd better get dinner on the table!
 

Sorry for the late post but real life is so interfering with my novelas and blogging. Thanks for the great recap Judy. Also thanks to Hombre and Carlos. Hopefully things will get back to normal next week...sigh.
 

Hi Karen. Yes, we've missed you. Dang that real life! Keeps interfering. Especially from Thanksgiving through New Year's. Hang in there.
 

Ahoy all, great comments today. I'm laughing, I'm hungry, I'm laughing, I'm hungry, I'm grabbing my biggest cast iron skillet (the one with the grill marks) and lining up for the Rolu whack.
 

I don't have a cast iron skillet, but I do have a sample bolt on my desk which is 1" diameter and a foot and a half long. It's pretty heavy. May I use that?
 

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Alternately, I have a 6 foot long section of galvanized steel cable, which might make a nice weapon.
 

Julia, Emilia's real fond of the overhand stroke that lands the bottom of the skillet on top of my head. She recommends a longitudinal strike w/ the bolt since it sounds like it has plenty of mass. You do need to get the max speed in the delivery, though. She says the cable should be fine, too, but recommends plenty of practice first till you're acquainted with its flex.
 

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You folks are a hoot !!! I just finished reading the Sorti-hell-io recap and comments and decided to drift over here. Judy~ That was quite a Christmas confession. I love Christmas. I used to spend it with my whole family [parents, aunt and uncle, my sister] on the farm. My mother always made AP cookies...always using the same cutters [the tree, the Santa, the bell, the boot] and my maternal grandmother always made Stollen. My mother made a huge dinner including plum pudding for the dad whose dad was from England. After I got married, hub and I always spent Christmas Eve and AM with my whole family, and Christmas afternoon and evening with his. Lots of good memories. I address my cards in the summer, and I shop all year for gifts. I no longer wrap...giftbags !!! HOHOHO
 

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