Caray, Caray!

Carlos,

.....thanks for posting the page. Gancho has come up several times on Mi Pecado....Some of us have been comparing characters and Julia actually used our Ximena's una, dos, tres in her recap....You can take the blogger out of Gancho, but you can't take the Gancho out of the bloggers!

I saw "our" page the last time and vavoom, three days passed before I had a chance to go back to comment.

More tomorrow....and Carlos, if the drinks are on you...I'll have what ever you're having!
 

Excellent Carlos. Love those pics and the intro. May I have a Virgin Mary? Maybe I should say Virgincita Mary. I love the tomato juice, the hot sauce and the celery...but the booze puts me to sleep!
 

Hmmm, I'll take a fauxjito, porfis. I'd ask for one of those fancy pink drinks Ximena was so fond of, but I think drinking like our dear Xime would knock me over dead.

It's true, Gancho is often on my mind as I recap Mi Pecado, which is strange as they couldn't be more different. Sometimes I'm watching Armando Araiza (Carmelo) and thinking, "why can't you be more like your brother (Beto)?"
 

Sandy and Judy,

Welcome back to Club Gancho. Let's see, Sandy gets a Dark and Stormy... seems appropriate, and for Judy... a Virgin Mary, extra Tabasco.

Sandy, has Nashville dried out? After seeing the videos, I was appalled that you guys were almost ignored by most of the rest of the country.

Judy, aerobics without AC? Good luck with that.

Texas is hot, but rain today and likely off and on for rest of week.

So Mike, you're retiring after this project? Put Miz Emelia on the back of your hog and come to Texas... Goodson's has a couple of CFSs with your names on them. Forget the diet for a week.

Elna June, how's that silence thing working out? Oops... Sorry... Shhh.

Silvia, are you guys ready to sail away? Good luck and safe journey. When you get to Hawaii, be sure and try some Maui Potato Chips.

Kris, are you still sworn off of TNs? Hang tough.

Hombre, enjoy W Va. I had no idea that it was a place people actually go to on vacation.

Vivi, what are you watching these days? Do you get a break for Summer?

Well bars open. We have a few bottles of Ardiente Pasión and lots of aguardiente.

Carlos
 

Julia,

Mi Pecado? Not quite as light-hearted as un Gancho, is it?

I've got some nice mint so a fauxito isn't a bad choice. Sure you don't want to kick it up a bit with a dash of Appleton's Light Rum?

Carlos
 

Carlos- The answer to your question about what I'm watching is too much. Too many telenovelas- they've all sucked me in. Dinero which I love, Pecado which leaves me breathless after almost episode, Salvaje when I can watch my recording (guilty pleasure), and now Duena has started, and it has FC, so I HAVE to watch. :) Not sure what will have to give once Mad Men starts. My weekends are busy now that it's summer, so can't really catch up then.
 

Carlos: Who knew the first pic of Coni you'd use would be one where she is at her lowest, about to chance her ways. I sort of miss Coni and Beto and the rest of the gang. It's been a while since a show made me laugh as much as Gancho used to do.

I didn't know Silvia was about to part to Hawaii! Lucky her!

I'm having some nice weather right now. After horrible heatwaves, we are getting some nice clouds that keep the temperature from going crazy on us.

We just had a big event here on Veracruz. A regata was made to celebrate the 200 years of independence of the Latin American nations, it started on Sao Paulo, Brazil and ended here on Veracruz last weekend. The sailing ships are still here.

I'm not watching any novela right now but I might start watching "Cuando Me Enamoro" next week. The promos are beautiful and it has Silvia Navarro and Juan Soler.

Julia, just imagine how different Mi Pecado would have been if Carmelo where like Beto. Haha. But Beto is very a typical "naco chilango" and Carmelo is too much of a "junior de rancho". They would hate each other.

Jarocha
 

Well, I do rewatch Mi Pecado online and bits and pieces of the earlier Soy Tu Dueña episodes. I completely forgot about that weird duranguense chorus. It's so over the top, I'd expect something like that from a Mejía production but Nicandro Díaz.

Jarocha
 

Ahh yes, the Chorus of Doom. Lol! What if Gancho had one of those? Now that would have been funny!

The heat wave here in the mid-Atlantic continues. Heat and humidity. Even the bursts of rain don't really cool things down, just make it feel more muggy.

The summer for me has not gotten slower. We run summer workshops on college campuses for rising seniors, and I fundraise quite a bit during the beginning of the summer. August should be a bit slower though.
 

Jarocha, how good you came by. May I get you a Tequila or would you prefer a whisky or maybe an umbrella drink?

I felt so sad for Coni at that moment. Everyone she cared for had deserted her including her dad. How nifty was it that Monita still had a small degree of faith in her?

The regatta sounds spectacular. Sounds like it's partytime in Vera Cruz.

Vivi, sounds as though you and I are suffering from the same affliction. At one point I was down to one TN and The Office. Now I'm watching Dinero, STuD, and CS. I definitely need to devote more time to my reading and grammar review. Now, what'll you have? How about a martini?

Carlos
 

Ha! That's the only joke the Gancho writers missed. I could see Beto and Costeño forming their band haha. With Nieves looking proudly at them from the first row and Coni trying to look delighted while cringing inside and the rest of the vecindad having fun. This time Mauricio won't have to battle anyone to dance with Moni.

I hope you don't overwork yourself Vivi. Maybe you can find a nice weekend to visit the beach.

Jarocha
 

Slide a nice minty, sugary mojito my way Carlos.
 

Carlos: A tequila would be nice :).

I liked that moment with Monita. There was so much bad blood between them for a long time. I liked that the show didn't let them become insta-friends at the end but showed how the both of them were on the right path to create some sort of bond.

It is party time. My friends and I were celebrating our loss to Argentina at the world cup yesterday. No reason to let that getting us down. Now we'll see the best matches of the cup!

Jarocha
 

Thanks for opening Club Gancho Carlos. No alcohol for me. Perhaps a root beer or an iced tea. :)
Like Vivi watching too much. Univision has become the default evening station. Dropped CS when it went late, still following MP, Dinero, and STuD. I have to see what happens in the end with MP. There are definitely times I see Beto in Carmelo, a family resemblance to some degree.

We are finally going to have some days without any rain. Rained most of the month. I think we have set a record for June.. but.. that is still less than what in Nashville. I hope things are drying out and getting better Sandy.

Since I started working last week, now having less time to read recaps and comment.
 

Hi Jeff,

A&W OK? In a frosted mug? Want a scoop of Bluebell Vanilla Ice Cream in that? Are you still watching the World Cup? I was of course disappointed with the USA exit. I pulled for Mexico but Argentina was pretty good. My good friend and cardiologist is from Argentina and has altered his schedule for the WC. He's happy.

Do you or Judy have opinions regarding Nebraska joining the Big Ten? We Baylorites had a bit of a scare. We were almost orphaned.

Carlos
 

That's the spirit Jarocha! There's always a reason to celebrate. Even with a loss.

I was stuck at the auto dealership all day Saturday, but luckily they had the World Cup on and I saw the exciting South Korea/Uruguay game and then part of the Ghana/US game. The games are just getting better and are lots of fun to watch with the typical international groups you find in DC.
 

Carlos, no just straight, both of them. Probably chocolate chip ice cream on the side. I'm on a kick for that for quite awhile now. We used to make that when I was young and now I buy that all the time. :)
Haven't been watching too much. Watched US-Ghana and Arg-Mex and part of Germ-Eng over the weekend. Would have been nice to see US move on, but also like to see underdog countries like Ghana make it, too. Arg and Ger look good.

Vivi, you don't get enough of auto dealerships with Dinero you have to head to them on the weekend too? :)
 

hHello Club Gancho! Another week and a half and I'm on my way to Oahu via the Pacific Ocean. I only have time for one TN these days and STuD is it. Not counting the stud muffin FC the crazy band of moustachioed hombres is my favorite part of that show.

Speaking of favorites, how I miss our wonderful Gancho characters. I watched an episode or two of Pecado and had the same feeling as Julia; Armando honey, you've got a hot bod but I wish you had your brother's charisma!

Anyoo...my cocktail tonight is a freshly squeezed lemonade (I have a crazy-ass lemon tree that shouts all year long), light on the sugar, dash of vodka, and I'm enjoying the warm summer evening.

It's great to talk to y'all again.
 

Carlos, of course people come to West Virginia for vacations. Remember the John Denver song, Country Roads, which starts out, "Almost Heaven, West Virginia, Blue Ridge Mountains, Shenandoah River". Lots of people buy vacation homes in West Virginia. The mountains are beautiful, the air is clean and clear, the fishing is fine and the music is hot. I had a great time celebrating my mother's 80th birthday and my parents' 60th anniversary. We swam, had singalongs, and enjoyed some delicious meals, one in a restaurant high on the side of a mountain, where we watched the sunset as we sipped our drinks.

I've been watching Dinero, along with Perro Amor and Muñecas de la Mafia. Those last two are great shows, but they're both in final weeks, so I'm not sure what I'll watch next. But I'll be sure to hang out here in Club Gancho whenever it's open.
 

Carlos, not sure about Nebraska. Doesn't seem right. Also, they always pounded us in football. Some really bad losses back in the 70s, 80s, and early 90s. Haven't played them for quite awhile now. Judy may have other thoughts on it.
Yes, I guess the joke is we can change conference names with you guys now, we can be the Big 12 and vice versa. But.. they sure aren't going to give up the Big 10 name. What is your conference going to be called now?

Jarocha, did I see a new clip that said some fans weren't too happy about the loss and were yelling at the players coming home?
 

Hombre, whenever I think of WV, I think of coal mining and Robert Byrd. I remember from grade school geography that it is very beautiful, and of course our Emilia is from WV. Your trip sounds wonderful. Congratulations to your folks. 60 yrs. Wow! And happy birthday to your mom.

Jeff, my own personal preference is to keep the name and add University of Houston and TCU. I'm just glad Baylor wasn't left out in the cold.

Carlos
 

Vivi: I can't imagine how fun it must be to watch the games with such a multicultural audience. You must have had a blast. The good side of Ghana winning is that it keeps at least one African team on the cup (and spanish news can keep using their "gana Ghana" headlines) although I don't see them going past the next game, it would be sweet though.

Jeff I didn't see the clip. The Mexican soccer fans are pretty crazy so I'm afraid I believe they could do that. I think a big part of our loss was the team's fault for letting the first offside goal upset them so much that their performance suffered too much. That's one thing our team needs to learn, accept things and move on instead of letting things like that destroy their game. Argentina was the better team but Mexico didn't play how they should. Of course, that doesn't mean people should go and yell to the players. I bet their technics were doing that already.

Argentina vs Germany is going to be a fantastic match. People are already saying that it's like the final game before the final.

Hi Silvia and Hombre! I hope you are having a great time too.

Hombre: So nice to hear about your parents celebrating their 60th anniversary, that must have been wonderful.

Jarocha
 

That US/Ghana game was a killer for me. Not just because it was exciting, but also because I was watching at the gym, where the only televisions are on the cardio equipment. So I had done about an hour and a half on the elliptical machine, and then there was extra time! I couldn't miss the end, so I switched to the treadmill for the extra 45 minutes or so.

Many years ago, on a long road trip across the country with my sister, we spent some time in West Virginia. It was very pretty. We visited a really old mill that was near the New River Bridge. That's what I remember most, because my sister was a mechanical engineering student and her senior project was a mill, so she was really into it and explained everything to me.
 

Hi all, Thanks for the lovely comments about WV. It is a beautiful state, and a great place to be from! I love to visit but couldn't imagine living there again.
Julia, go back to the New River Bridge in October. One weekend - I can't remember which - is designated Bridge Day. No cars are allowed and you can walk across. Of course, there are always some BASE jumpers who only walk halfway across!
Hombre, glad y'all had a good time, and congratulations to your parents on their anniversary.

I miss Gancho in a way, but mainly the wonderful comments and commenters, side conversations and camaraderie. Mike and I are watching STuD and enjoying the way-over-the-top overacting. It drives a lot of the watchers nuts but we like it...

So far we have had a hot summer, 101 yesterday and no rain since about May. Today is supposed to be the last really nasty day, then a cold wave (mid 80s) should come through. We're considering sleeping out on the screened porch while it's cool...

Sylvia, wishing you fair breezes and stiff oceans, or whatever the saying is, for your adventure. Mike loved the photo of your boat on the website you mentioned. Have a ball - tell us all about it when you get back.

Carlos, Mike will have to tell you his drink of choice, fauxito sounds good... or Dark and Stormy, heck, ice water works!

For those watching STuD, Ana Martin showed a little of Nieves when she was recounting her meeting with TBLMOE. The eye rolling, little secret smile. She has to dress in black and white but her thoughts still are blue!
 

Very funny about Ana Martin! I haven't watched last night's episode yet so I look forward to her being a bit like Nieves. Have we seen her character and the padre interact yet? I half expect them to wake up in bed together wearing jammies and sunglasses!

Oh, and I forgot to say how funny it was that a STuD commenter mentioned Carlos's corn recipes a week or so ago. Carlos, you make an impression and are a memorable guy.
 

Emilia, good morning. How about a tall Tomas Collins (using Tequila blanca) since the weather is so warm there. We've already reached 100° here but we've been getting enough rain to keep things green. For Mike, I have a W L Weller mint julep served in a silver (well, plated) cup wrapped in a linen napkin.

Julia, I found another picture and thought of you so I posted it this morning.

Diana, waiting for you to drop by and update us on your Summer.

Carlos
 

Mmmm, the julep sounds good. I made them for Yankee friends recently. They were polite but I'm not sure they really liked them. Ah well...
I'm not much of an alcohol drinker - cheap date - but the Tom Collins sounds good. Cut me off after one, though. When I get a snoot full I get the idea I can sing! (I can't)
 

For those who mentioned it, Nashville is DRY and HOT in the high 90's most days. The rebuilding and renovating is everywhere and there is always a wonderful story told when you run into a flood victim...the last being a session musician who lost three good guitars and had three given to him within a couple of days...he can now work.

Is anyone watching Los Existosos Gome$ on Telemundo? It is WONDERFUL. Briefly, a successful television news couple are really married but the marriage is a sham. He is gay. The husband is substituted, unbeknownst by the wife, by an identical looking straight man and he then falls in love with her, but he still has to pretend to be gay. Too many details to tell, but it is fabulous. It will be my Spanish resting spot until the remake of La Mentira with Sylvia Navarro comes out, after MP.
Doris gave me a heads up on it. The production is from Lima, Peru. MP friends, you all would love it, it is basically about KINDNESS.

Vivi, I love Mad Men too!
 

Carlos: Your wonderful pictures brought back so many happy memories of Gancho and its loveable and unforgettable characters. The camraderie of the recappers and commenters on this special line is truly missed.

It's only 10:50 here but as it's noon somewhere, I wouild love a glass of white zin.

You and Emilia have drawn comparisons between Beni and Nieves - insightful and true! Emilia, I do believe Ana Martin does have a bit of a crush on FC in real life (winning an award a few years ago, her first word to the audience was "Colunga") so have no doubt her flirtatious demeanor on STuD was genuine and heartfelt.

Sandy, I'm glad TN is starting to rebuild and that acts of kindness are flourishing there.

Silvia, wishing you all the best on your fabulous trip. Warm sun, cool breezes and safe travels.

Best to all - Diana
 

Los Exitosos Gome$ sounds like another version (the original?) of Los Exitosos Perez. I'm hoping we'll get LEP on Univision because I miss Jaime Camil.
 

Emilia, that was funny...

"She may have to dress in black and white, but her thoughts are still blue"! I wonder if she'll try groping JM, the way Nieves's hands tended to wander all over Mauricio.
 

Oooooh, Carlos, thanks for the extra picture. Can't have too much of that, although now you maybe need to fix me another cold drink...
 

If any of you get LaTele on your cable or satellite system, you might enjoy tuning into Sos Mi Vida, which is the Argentine original on which Un Gancho was based. It stars Facundo Arana and Natalia Oreiro who gained fame in Muñeca Brava (the original on which Al Diablo con Los Guapos was based).

I didn't watch Gancho, so I can't say how they compare, but from the occasional episodes I've seen on LaTele, it's quite a lot of fun.
 

Anon: I've like what I've seen from Sos Mi Vida, I think Gancho was very different from the original past the first 60 episodes so it could be fun to watch.

The original novela from "Los Exitosos Gomez" is "Los Exitosos Pells" which is also from Argentina. Then came a version from Chile, later México, Spain and I believe the one from Perú is the newest.

Jarocha
 

Anon, I have DirecTV Spanish package, and I hunted for LaTele but couldn't find it. I'd love to watch Sos mi Vida. I thought un Gancho was very well written. It was fresh, spicy, and even daring at times. However, I think for most of us the real magic was in the casting. The characters were nicely fleshed out and the ensemble acting was brilliant. Interestingly, I think that the protagonists (Mauricio and Valentina) were pretty and pleasant but by themselves, just adequate. The actors that surrounded them were usually more fun and more fascinating, but each character was essential to the success of the show.

Jarocha, since you've seen at least both, how do you think that they compare? I watched both la Fea más Bella and Betty la Fea and have to admit that I thought both were very well done and would be hard put to pick a favorite.

Carlos

Carlos
 

Well, I think both are pretty good on their own. However, for me Gancho was funnier since most of the jokes were based in the urban Mexican culture so that made me able to understand everything about it, the double entendres, the stereotypes, the dichos, etc. Sos Mi Vida was longer and various plots I felt were streched to the point it made the show a little tiring to watch. I think Gancho was originally planned to be just 130 episodes to avoid this, that's why they changed many things but they were extended too in the end.

Sos Mi Vida though, has a pretty good cast. Natalia Oreiro is excellent as Monita, she is very lively and hilarious. Her Monita is more expressive and extreme and I prefer he chemistry with Facundo Arana's Martín to the chemistry of the leading couple in the Mexican version.

Carla Peterson is excellent as Constanza, she is more lighthearted then our Coni and more relaxed. I liked both versions, I think Laisha gave Coni a more human approach, I felt like she could be heartbreaking to watch at times and enfuriating at others. Carla's Coni feels more like a comic strip villain which really works for her version because she can be very funny. Carla is a comedian, Laisha is a dramatic actress, I guess that influenced their performances.

As for the rest, I think both cast do well. I liked Quique's Sos Mi Vida but I do prefer our Beto. And while I prefer Sos Mi Vida's Monita and Martín as a couple, I think our Beto and Coni were a much better couple than Quique and Constanza (who were mostly played for laughs). I prefer our Xime to Debbie but she is still fine and I like both Rolandos.

I think the cast is fine on both sides and I guess how much you like it depends on how you connect with them.

Sos Mi Vida is great and will always be the original and Natalia Oreiro is great but I think I prefer Gancho, because I saw it first and I feel a better connection to the characteres.

In Los Exitosos.. though. The Argentinian version is the best. No doubt about it. Mike Amigorena is the best Martín/Gonzalo ever.

Jarocha
 

Jarocha, well, now I have to watch Sos mi Vida. You and Anon make it sound very appealing. I (as you do) have a special affection for Coni and Beto as a couple. Yes, Coni reminded me of someone from my youth, but the scenes between she and Beto were some of the steamiest I've seen. They were able to meld raw passion with genuine affection in a way that spilled right off the screen into the lap of the viewer. Ximena exuded a palpable
sensuousness in a way that was so much fun. I almost hated seeing her end up with anyone, even though I became a firm Rolu supporter after the second tattoo. She was like a wild colt that I didn't want to see tamed. Yikes, I'm afraid these folks became all too real after all those weeks. You know, I wasn't attracted to this TN but was so fond of the recappers, Nick, Judy, Kris, Sylvia, and Hombre that I started watching mainly so I could follow their recaps. It turned out to be my favorite ever. I still have a special feeling for Ramona, my first, and Juan Querendon, super funny, but un Gancho topped even them as far as I'm concerned.

Carlos
 

Well I hope you enjoy it when you get to see it. I definitely miss Gancho and remember it fondly. I think I can honestly say it is my favorite comedy novela. I don't think there's been another one that made me laugh as much and that had so many characteres I cared so much. I even grew fond of Moni and Mau.

Jarocha
 

Wow, what a stellar analysis and comparison of those telenovelas! That's some great critical thinking Jarocha. Are you a teacher by any chance? Thanks to you and Anon for your input and opinions.

Gancho was also one of my very favorite telenovelas ever. I thought the characterization was top notch. I particularly like when a character displays both good and "bad" qualities and I end up sympathizing with both aspects. Beto and Coni were amazing at this, probably the best I've seen. Some characters start out good, then go "bad", then maybe get redeemed. Beto and Coni quite naturally displayed both sides all the time. Carlos, like you I also grew very fond of the recappers and commenters. I felt like it was a safe haven to express whatever we wanted. When we went off on tangents so much the better.
 

JAROCHA! So good to see you. In the Mex v. Arg game I could tell that Arg was playing better; I didn't realize that Mex was off its game. I don't normally watch soccer, but for World Cup I make an exception because the level of play is beautiful to behold. I have a question. The two announcers during the games (on the Univision broadcast, if that matters). The first guy is louder and he talks more. The second guy has a more quiet, smoother voice, and he doesn't talk as much. The second guy has a distinctive accent. Where is that accent from? It doesn't sound norteño nor central Mex (DF), and I would love to know what it is. Thanks!!!
 

You Ganchodores really do have the best community on Caray!

Carlos, I'll take a jamaica, but can you make it fizzy? I don't drink except with meals.

Sandy, did you know that Jaime Camil was in Memphis last week? Check the clip. He's trying to get US work. And yes, he was in the Mexican version of Los Exitosos ???. His portrayal of the two distinct characters (actually three!) is sensational. (I haven't seen the Arg, but everyone says Mike A did a spectacular job.) Who knows when LEP will get here. It was supposed to be in 2010 but they'll probably push it back because LEG is running now. Julia, if you need a Camil fix, his Recién Cazado is on DVD, about $9+SH on eBay. His latest movie, Regresa, looks very good, but it's still very expensive on eBay; wait a bit.

Hombre d'M, I would love a vacation in WV. I believe the Blue Ridge Mountains are perhaps the most beautiful place on earth. Of course my opinion is influenced by being born and raised in the hills of rural PA.

Carlos, puedo pedirte algo? I just overhauled my Learning Spanish by Telenovelas page, but I didn't have much to say about the reading part, because I haven't done much. Would you possibly consider writing a paragraph for that section, since reading is a major part of your language study? If you chose to, I would post your paragraph directly to the page, and of course I'd give you credit. Keep in mind, the audience is people who are beginner Spanish learners. You can e-mail me at paulah88@hotmail.com . If you have my private em adr, the publishing one, that's better, but I don't want to post it here.
 

Silvia: I'm not a teacher but that's a lovely profession and I actually almost studied to become one, but my mother swayed me another way.

Paula: How lovely to speak with you after so long! I don't really know about the Univision announcers because I don't get the channel, just some of their shows that Televisa buys for one of their cable channels. I usually watch football in channel 2 of Televisa or channel 13 of Tv Azteca.

Jarocha
 

Sorry, I meant soccer.

Jarocha
 

Jarocha, I suspect that Uni gets its futbol feed from Televisa. So those are probably the announcers I'm talking about. Do the Televisa announcers fit the description I gave? If so, what is the accent of the #2 announcer?

I remember when you first hesitantly posted here on Caray. It was probably either Pasion or Tontas. You always add such valuable insights, I'm glad we have you on board. If you ever come to northern California, I'll be your tour guide, okay? I'm serious!
 

Hi Everybody. And Carlos, thank you for adding more pictures. It's so much fun to have an illustrated Gancho hookup. And you're a great bartender. I can just tell!
 

Thank you! You are great! And you know that if you ever come to Veracruz, I'll be your guide too!

Ok if Univision gets their feed from Televisa then both announcers are Mexican, they are Raúl Orvañanos and Enrique "el perro" Bermudez. Orvañanos has a very usual Mexican tv accent. Bermudez tends to add his own style that is sort of exaggerated and it's full of football soccer slang in Spanish. He has sort of become part of the popular culture, here's an example of his excessive use of soccer slang:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u9G29T6F64U

Jarocha
 

Hi Paula, thanks for joining us here in Club Gancho. I'll try to come up with suggestions for incorporating reading into a beginner's efforts in learning Spanish. I'm flattered to think that I might have something useful to offer.

Now, about your drink... what is a jamaica?

Hi, Judy. Glad you enjoy the pictures. I had planned to add a new picture each day this week. Any special requests?

Carlos
 

Jamaica is a tea made from dried hibiscus flowers. It's the purple "bug juice" you see in all the novelas, e.g. at a taqueria. You drink it cold, and sweetened to a level in between normal iced tea with some sugar, and kool aide. It tastes a bit like cranberry juice though not as strong. And it's very healthy. But mostly it's delicious.

You boil the dried flowers for a few minutes, strain to take out the flowers, and add cold water and sugar. Voila!

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hibiscus_tea
 

Br'er Carlos, I accept your julep w/ enormous gratitude. But I believe we should indeed hit Goodson's first and put down a solid foundation (learning structural engineering from Julia) for our ethanol delights.

West Virginia does indeed have some really pretty areas. I'm not familiar w/ the northern part which is where I think Hombre visited. But places like the Alderson (thank you for the notoriety, Martha Stewart) and Princeton are very pretty. Particularly nice is driving US 460 along the New River from Princeton to Christiansburg, VA. Emilia and I belong to a very exclusive Facebook group titled, "I've Been to the Hinton, WV Dairy Queen" which is well and truly unlike any other DQ.

Re the Chorus of Doom on STuD, I wanna know where they got their fake mustaches! Too cool.

Vivi, sorry you had to spend the day at a car dealer :-(

Sylvia, how go the preparations? I really really really wanna be a stowaway.

Julia, an HOUR on an elliptical, and more on a treadmill? My knees are killing me just thinking about it!

STuD is OK, certainly not Gancho, but not as dark as Mi Pecado. I only lasted ten mins on Pecado. Some good acting and a somewhat intriguing plot on STuD. Scenery at the country estate is really nice.

Jarocha, you can say football and everyone here will understand. Let me second what Paula said - we're so grateful that you join us here.
 

Cap'n Sylvia, ma'am, I've changed my profile photo. A little tribute to the good ship Cinnabar and fondest wishes for fair winds and following seas to you and all of Cinnabar's crew.
 

Wow Mike! We are your profile photo! That's very cool. Prep is coming along nicely but I can't believe we are a week from leaving and there is still so much to do. I have a bunch of little sewing projects, racing cushions (don't want to trash the ultrasuede), mesh bags for lines and winch handles, more bags to increase storage space, endless stuff like that. Luckily my friend has a sewing business out of her home and she lets me come by to do my projects.

We are having endless discussions and emails on the weather. It is light out there right now and the Pacific High is wobbling around right between us and Hawaii. It's too soon to kvetch though, time will tell. Anyway, we will be ready to roll in one week. Thank you for your interest. We will have our transponder and can be tracked via the website.

I'm EXCITED!!!!!
 

I don't know why they make such a big fuss about the World Cup. You can't even drink out of it! With that ball stuck in the top, if you tried to pour a beer into it, it would just spill all over the place. What good is a cup that you can't drink from??? (jiji)
World Cup photo
 

Paula, thanks for clarifying your order. I was looking for a drink corresponding to jamaica and found a drink utilizing the hibiscus tea and Jamaican Rum. I've had hibiscus tea (very refreshing), but a dash of rum would have made it perfect.

Mike, I'm so glad you joined in. I love your picture. I'm certainly not a sailor, but I too am envious of Sylvia. What a great adventure.

Carlos
 

Paula, we need a "World KEG!" Something the US can win!

Carlos, how 'bout a photo of Mauricio's abs??

Sylvia, your boat is gorgeous! Looks like she can go really really fast. (The point of the exercise, eh?)
 

Carlos...you made not just Emilia happy but "moi" as well with that photo of Mauricio. Naturally my interest in his abs is strictly professional. I'm all about work, you know that.
 

Yes, Judy, that's your story and you're sticking to it, eh?
 

Paula, surely you're watching STuD, right? Especially now that you can get a TBLMOE fix every night.
 

Emilia and Judy,

We aim to please here in Club Gancho. Viviendo la vida gancho. If you want to talk about it... we'll listen.

News flash:

Marcos Lerdo de Tejada (Eric del Castillo) just showed up on STuD and he's the same as ever... charming the pants off of everyone. Bless his heart, he's married to a shrew... albeit a rather attractive shrew.

I'm going to go ahead and put up tomorrow's nostalgic picture in just a few minutes instead of waiting until the morning. Now, may I get you all fresh drinks? The same?

Carlos
 

Hi Mike. I haven't been watching STuD; the plot summary didn't attract me, ni cinco. But my best friend, a recent immigrant, generally can't stand TN's. She watched two cap's and kinda' likes it, so I guess I'll give it a shot.

Did I ever tell you about my TBLMOE dream? I dreamt I went to a banquet with assigned seats, eight people per round table. I found my seat, looked around the table, and realized I shared the table with not one, but TWO of the best looking men on earth! To the right, two seats away, sat Fernando Colunga. And on the other side of the table? Guess who? Fernando Colunga.
 

Thank you, Carlos, ever the accommodating host! Mauricio was definitely assembled from quality parts and award winning workmanship. I'll have another drink, if you please. Perhaps a Mojito - and a cold shower.....
 

Ah, Paula, Dos Moes! Was one of them an evil twin?
 

Good one Mike. Evil twin sounds interesting. You know, the appeal of the bad guy.

Carlos, yikes, I'd forgotten that scene of Monita on the desk. "Show n tell" indeed. "Play date" also comes to mind.

I understand Brasil got beaten today. Real shocker.

Greetings to everybody and special thanks to Dr. Carlos for putting in a picture for everybody. No complaints, right? He's a super host. How about taking on the job permanently Carlos. 'Cause I love the pics and some of us technically challenged ones can't do 'em.
 

Judy, I think Carlos uses a consultant named Bonnie Belle to do the photo posting for him. She works for room and board.
 

I'm glad everyone seems to be enjoying living la Vida Gancho this week. If you have a few moments, here's a look back at our old friends at their last public get together. It brought a tear to my eye as I watched this again.

I hope everyone has a wonderful Independence Day weekend. Feliz cumpleaños a Sylvia, who I'm told has a birthday July 4.

Of course Club Gancho is always open, and it looks like someone is always dropping by. If you like, I'll put out a fresh welcome mat Mon or Tue. next week.

Carlos
 

For Mike, a preview of things to come. Next week when Carlos posts a new Ganchos welcome mat, I think I'll write up some thoughts about how Club Gancho is like the zoomie day room. Stay tuned.
 

Awwwww! Dani is the cutest!

I don't remember the context on the M&M...why exactly was she dressed like that?
 

Hope we get to see little Dani again soon. She's precious!

Happy Birthday, Sylvia. Hope it is wonderful. My Cuban grandmother was born on the 4th also, we think. Her mother made up a tale to avoid admitting that my gran was really born in Tampa, FL.
 

Oh, and Hello, Judy. I miss talking to you. Maybe we will end up watching the same tn again soon.
 

Paula, standing by. I have no idea what you'll come up with but I do look forward to reading it. I think.
 

Ahoy all, must be another Sylvia whose birthday is July 4th. Mine is closer to Halloween. However THANKS everyone! I do so love birthdays and happy birthday wishes. I accept on behalf of everyone whose birthday is July 4th. OK, I'm going to check out Carlos's link and other stuff, then go through my provisioning checklist for the millionth time to make sure I have what we need. I bought chocolate covered ginger for the first couple of days until we get our sea legs, chocolate covered oaty granola bars for breakfast, chocolate covered raisins to help keep us regular, chocolate covered espresso beans to help keep us awake, chocolate covered raspberry fruit jellies for a change of pace, plain dark chocolate sticks for the purists, chocolate covered biscuits for dessert, hot chocolate for the night watches...is there anything else I need? I can't think of anything...
 

Couple of Hershey bars?
 

Wow, there's just nothing like the Gancho line. This is still my favorite place to me. Home base.

Have a stupid question and don't mind looking stupid to you guys! I keep getting a visual verification (blank box) for the sign in. I don't know what to do. So I type my moniker in, of course it gives me "error" and then, FINALLY I get some letters to verify. But what the H** was I supposed to do on the "visual". This drives me nuts.

Happy Fourth everyone. And a very Happy UnBirthday to you Sylvia.

And Carlos, bless you. Yes, a weekly posting by our favorite Doc would be perfect. Loved the Dani photo.

Mike, cute quip about Bonne Belle.
Emilia I miss you too....but I am watching STuD.
 

JudyB, I am experiencing the same annoying thing whenever I leave a comment. Must be some new "improvement" on blogger.
 

I've been missing the verification thing, too, about half the time. I've learn to "Ctrl+C" what I wrote, then refresh the screen and usually then the verification will come up and I can "Ctrl+V" my scribbling. Blogger's gotten real needy about wanting my username & password lately as well.

Hmmph. If it ain't closed captions, it's Blogger.
 

Yesssss....used to be I didn't have to sign in everytime but now I do. I hate this! (However if this is the worst in life I have to deal with...I am richly blessed...right?) Must remember to give thanks for electricity, running water, food, shelter and family. Done!
 

Good morning Ganchodores,

Sylvia, I'm embarrassed, all week, whenever I checked my Email, there was one of those square smiley-faces announcing Sylvia's birthday July 4. This morning it was:

*
Sylvia's birthday is tomorrow
– Comment | Send e-card

I've never known those square smiley-faces to be wrong. Nevermind.

There seems to be a unifying theme to your list of victuals. You need a protein source. I was always intrigued by jars of chocolate-coated ants sold in a delicatessen in Waco. I found this recipe that might serve in a pinch. Interesting that they advise against red ants (too spicy). Pity, here in Texas we have super-sized red ants that look very succulent.

Mike, Bonnie Belle is a dog of leisure. We pretty much live to serve her needs. Fortunately, she is a benevolent despot.

Julia, the M&M show and tell was a still I found in one of those music tributes to M&M on Youtube. I keep racking my brain to remember that episode. I do recall that outfit, but not the circumstances.

More rain today, TV conked out last night (plays for a few seconds, shuts off with a blinking red light. I'm afraid it's doomed), and my ice maker died... now Sylvia tells me that's tomorrow's not her birthday. What else could there in store for me? Oh, that's right, an oil spill is bearing down on my Gulf shrimp and oysters.

Carlos
 

M&Ms, Sylvia, got any of those for those clean hands moments?

Poor Doc Carlos. I can do without television much easier than without ice!

Great 4th everyone!
 

Lazy recapper's method, when Booger wants you to sign in AGAIN. When I try to post and see I'm not signed in, I click on blogger dashboard from my favorites. There, I am still signed in. Then I hit "back" on my browser and it takes me back to the "Leave a comment" page, but now I am signed in there as well. I don't know why it works, but it works at least 90% of the time. Voodoo.
 

Oh dear Carlos. Your TV is on its last legs? Clearly you're going to have to go out and buy the biggest flat-screen plasma hi-def (I have no idea what I'm talking about) mother of a TV ever to replace it. But I hope it's not like the hi-def one my husband bought me (which he watches while I watch the old one out back) because on the new one, you can only get closed captions if it's on "mute". (works for Ivana segments but otherwise most unsatisfactory).

Finally viewed your clip of the finale of Gancho. So much fun. Lots of little details I either missed or didn't remember (this covers a large territory). Thanks amigo...you're a terrific host. Catering to your guests' needs in all kinds of ways.

A big "hola" to Lovely Linda, Bonnie Belle and Jack. And you.