Caray, Caray!

Sam, we wait for your recap, sorry you had cable difficulties! 

Well we saw the ying and the yang of Aida's personality last night. Unlike other characters in this novela, she bubbles over with happiness and after all Mariano has been through I'm sure her laughter is solace to his soul,  but she doesn't accept him as he is, she wants to remove him from his vecindad friends and this will cause problems going forward.  After marriage friends change naturally, but Mariano views himself as one with la vecindad, he is a man who has dedicated his life's work to his neighbors......Aida has her hands full with her new "change Mariano" project. Claro, (!) Aida is a soft place to land until he gets himself ready to really see, feel and hear Aurora's true, unselfish love.  (I hope!) 

Shark, if you noticed last night how Aida entered Mar's office loudly and interrupting, that is how she got the moniker Aeeeeeeeda! 
 

Highlights:

HOSPITAL

Espe tells Hernan she's glad to see him; he tells her he doesn't believe it b/c he saw her kissing Ruben.

Aida wants to help Mariano buy an apartment*. Mariano tells her no, but asks for her help in buying a car.

VECINDAD

Pati's extra happy about her boda. She asks Grumps to come & gives him directions. He cries and rips the paper up.

Juana & Cutberto are surprised they are the madrina & padrino of the boda.

Teresa comes to tell her parents she's going to Europe. She then tries to discourage Pati from marrying Johnny and tries to get out of going to the boda.

Mariano & Aida surprise Ramon with A NEW CAR! [/priceisright]

HUNK HOUSE

Oriana visits Fer & wants to know why Teresa is there with him alone. He & Teresa tell Or that they are waiting for Luisa. Luisa comes, she & Fer leave and Or & Tere "talk."

Oriana tells Teresa if she divorces that's her business but point her fins someplace other than her son.

AVANCE: Oriana, Art & Tere are at the club when Mariano & Aida bounce in and Oriana gives Tere the "I See You" eye.

*I think Aida was trying to see if Mariano was using her for her money.
 

It was cute how genuinely happy Aida was to see Ramon get his new car. She was like a little girl.

And you can tell by Teresa's smile that she is really looking FORWARD to tangling with the shark-mother. That girl loves a project.
 

Mariano is such a good son, isn't he?

Yesterday there was speculation on Oriana being around for us to side with Teresa, but I think (since we're past the halfway mark) she's there to start Teresa's fall. I'm not sure whether she herself comes from something less than her current social circle, but it wouldn't be unusual for her to get defensive about it. Teresa will probably try to look for some dirt on her but I think Oriana already sees some of Teresa's tonight.

DA-dum. DA-dum. Etc. Carcharodon carcharias is on the prowl!

It's interesting that Pati is marrying down while Teresa married up. However, Pati really should think about this a lot more and not just because we know that Johnny is a drug dealer's dupe.
 

There was a lot of talk of origins last night. Oriana says her blood lines go way back. I see no reason to doubt her as that stuff can be easily disproved/proved.

The really surprising revelation was that Refugio married down. She said Teresa is just like her (Ref's) father. He father disapproved of her marrying Armando and didn't come to the wedding because she was marrying down. But she was marrying for love, and she didn't care. I think this makes the theory that Refugio wanted Teresa to stay in the vecinidad because she is jealous that Teresa is being/doing something she couldn't, more complex. I've never thought that was the reason, but I think finding out Refugio came from a higher station gives food for thought, whatever your theory about her.

Sam- Looking forward to the recap if you can get it up. How was the move?

Anon207- Thanks for the highlights. I don't think Aida was testing Mariano. Just trying to put him on the fast track to being completely immersed in her circles (the club he joins, where he lives, etc). I think she felt real joy seeing Mar give his dad that new car.
 

I felt maybe Aida was testing Mariano since she had just had a conversation with Maira worrying that Mariano was using Aida for her money. I think Aida knows Mariano isn't using her, and she does want to help, but now she can tell Maira that she offered to loan Mariano the money for an apartment and he turned her down, to shut down the argument that Mariano just wants Aida for her money.

I was surprised to learn that Refusio married down too and that does put a new spin on Refusio/Teresa. Perhaps Refusio saw in her former life how poor girls were treated like playtoys and discarded like dirt by the rich guys in her circle and she doesn't want that for Teresa. Perhaps Refusio knows money isn't everything, since she grew up with money,
 

The highlight last night for me was finding out about Refugio (althoug Ramon getting the car was adorable).

To me, it explains why she has always been so adamant about the idea that there's nothing wrong with being poor, since she had made that decision and seeing her daughter not believe that or try to get out the neighborhood threatens whether her decision had been the right one.
They have seemed to soften her character towards Armando somewhat, but might also explain why she hard on him when this first started. Again, that idea I sacrificed my standing for you, so get it together sort of thing. As for her "admiration" of Mariano, who knows, he could have reminded her of Armando at that age, just her guy made it out of the neighborhood.
 

should say her guy Never made it out of the neighborhood - this is my Friday this week. brain is shutting down for the long weekend.
 

I haven't watched this episode yet but I guess Oriana's discussion on her long blood line answers my question from yesterday. When I watch I will pay attention to this conversation, also the one where Refugio talks about marrying down. Very interesting stuff, especially when compared to Alborada (which some of us are also watching) where social class is such a huge deal. Apparently it still is to some people as it seems to be a prevailing theme in nearly every telenovela I have watched.
 

I had the opportunity to work with a fifth- generation decorative painter who travels all over the world restoring museum house interiors. He told me the remarkable thing about the US, COMPARED to other cultures and especially the European ones, is that as a nation we value achievement not class heritage. He said that some European cultures have an invisible caste system, unlike ours,  in which you can move freely from one group to the next depending on your success. He was always treated well in the US, but treated like a common "house painter" in other countries. Perhaps that is why a lot of us are saying, Teresa grew up poor, so what! 

Thanks Anon207 for your summary. You have a great memory! 
 

Samantha, I was only able to recap for you once. It was fun but I'm not able to commit to a regular recap-sharing schedule right now. Too much time-sucking work to do. I hope someone else wants to volunteer.

For someone who seems to really get off on being "high-class" Oriana has no manners whatsoever. Did her rich family send her to be raised by wolves? Wolves who are now probably shamed by her rude behavior? She has the aggressive, coarse mannerisms of the women I see fighting in front of the women's shelter down the street (where I see police cars and ambulances several times per week, at least). Those women mostly have drug problems and were never taught any etiquette. What's Oriana's excuse?

I did like how Teresa turned the tables on Oriana a bit, after Tiburiana's rant about Teresa not being good enough. "Well, frankly, when I met Fernando I didn't like him at all! He's a womanizing cad and definitely not good enough for my dear friend Luisa! She deserves better!" You could see Oriana was really taken aback that anyone could consider HER son anything but the most desirable prize ever (even if Teresa wasn't entirely honest).
 

Thanks Anon!

Hmmm... Maybe I do not have the dynamics all correct, but If Refuge "married down," then why did T worry so much about her parents (especially Mom) embarrassing her at the wedding, etc.? Wouldn't she be able to handle herself better than T?

Just saying, if Mom R was brought up as a well-to-do young lady, then very likely she also likely had had some skills drilled into her home life as she grew up. I"m referring to likely nuances like impeccable social manners, or just being used to being around the wealthy, including knowing their ways, dealing with them in different situations, even if she did not chose that type of life for herself. Any thoughts?

Lady Lisa de Saint Helena
 

I agree with you, Lady L. That whole "watch my purse for me" thing at the wedding was definitely working class. But maybe she's just adapted.
 

I completely missed the conversation where Refugio talked about her past. Was her family really wealthy, or just more comfortably off than she and Armando are?
 

Refusio's siuation could be a situation where the parents weren't themselves rich but they were around rich people and they wanted Refusio to marry up and she ruined their plans by marrying down.

Refusio mentioned Teresa was just like her grandfather, so I'm sure he was scheming and tricking too. Perhaps he came to a bad end with all his schemes, lies and tricks and that scares Refusio into thinking the same thing will happen to Teresa, too.

OR

Refusio's dad was trying to pimp her out to the rich boys he was somehow in proximity too. Refusio knew the boys weren't going to marry her, but someone of their own class. And then she wreck Grampa Tiburon's plans when she married somebody even lower in class than she.
 

I missed seeing the scene with Refugio saying her father rejected Armando because she was marrying down. Maybe Refugio's family is simply still from a lower status but just a bit higher than that of Armando's family? There are snobs in all levels.
 

Refugio said her father "didn't approve" of Armando, but did she specifically say why? (I did have the subs on this time, but I wasn't paying that close attention.)
 

Much like Pati comes from a higher social class than Johnny (middle/lower-middle class and with education beyond 9th grade). I'm guessing Refugio came from the same situation. Not rich and rubbing elbows with the best of the best, but NOT washer woman stock like she ended up being. I'm sure as much as Pati is coddled and raised with everything she needed (except love), she would still be flummoxed by the multiple silverware and fancy etiquette of the Arturo crowd. That’s what I picture in Refugio’s past.
 

Blue Lass- Yes, her father thought she was marrying beneath her. Just as Pati's grandfather thinks she is.
 

Thanks for the highlights Anon207 and good to hear from you Samantha. Sorry to hear about the problems with the cable but glad that all is well with you. Loved the butting of heads again with Teresa and Oriana. She definitely has Teresa's number and knows shes trying to latch onto Fernando for his money and she ain't having it.

Judging from the previews, Oriana is seeing that there is a history of bad blood between Arturo and Mariano because of Teresa. I'm sure Aida will be more than happy to fill her in on the whole sordid story.

Who knew that Refugio had married down. That was a surprising revelation.
 

I really liked the scenes with Oriana last night. I hope there is more snout bumping and dorsal fin scraping between her, Teresa, and Fernando in future episodes.

When last night’s episode started out, this is what I gathered was said, although, my translations are not going to be completely accurate, as my Spanish is not too good, which is why I depend on these recaps to help me out. Anyway here is my attempt:

The opening scene starts with the continuation of Oriana’s snarling and snapping from last night’s episode, and Teresa saying that she likes that people say what is on their mind. Oriana basically replies, that’s good, because she too enjoys being direct, and of course says it with condescension. They exchange snarls, then the conversation goes something like this:

Arthur to Oriana: When you have the opportunity to get to know Teresa, you're going to realize she is a great human being. You will discover the reasons why I love her and married her.

Oriana: Reasons that were not of sufficient weight to prevent you from the current problems you are having with your marriage.

Teresa: We're working on it and looking at the possibility of separating [rather than divorce].

Fernando: That would be best.

Oriana: Fortunately there are no children in the picture because having a family would complicate everything. So as long as there are no unintended pregnancies, that would be best for everyone.

Teresa: Arthur wants to have children, but is also something we will discuss as a couple.

Arturo: Oriana, I hope that the problems with my wife are resolved when we have the opportunity to work on it. [I’m not sure about the last part of that sentence, I couldn’t quite catch it].

They have a toast where Oriana offers felicitations to everyone by name, except Teresa. Teresa chimes in with a toast to good health for all present, as laser beams practically shoot from her eyes towards her rival shark.

At the tennis club, Ruben acts like a total jacka**, as he is appalled that Mariano is hanging around. Genoveve basically tells him not to be rude as he is there as a guest of Aida. Ruben cannot stand the thought of the lowly messenger Mariano being with his daughter, and now he’s supposed to treat him like an equal? He can’t stand it, no way! He says other stuff, but the take away from that scene is that Ruben is a tool. A true tool.

Oriana and Fernando arrive at Fernando’s bachelor pad. Fernando is visibly upset. His mom asks what’s wrong, as if she hasn’t been acting like a complete b!tch since the moment she arrived.

Fernando: You know very well what’s wrong mama. I'm upset about the way you treated
Teresa.

Oriana: Well, I just said what I thought.

Fernando: Mama, she is the wife of my best friend. You should be more discreet.

Oriana: And for what? If they are getting a divorce [what does it matter], and I truly believe that would be the best thing that could happen to Arthur.

Fernando: No, mama, you do not know what you are talking about (or what’s been going on – I wasn’t sure how to translate that).

Oriana: Just to see her was enough for me to realize that it is…

[Fernando abruptly interrupts]

Fernando yells: ENOUGH, ENOUGH, mama! Stop bad mouthing (speaking ill of) Teresa! She is an extraordinary woman, so I’ll ask you not to do it!

Oriana: Wow… you are defending her with a passion as if she were YOUR wife, not Arthur’s.

Fernando: No, mama, I am defending her because you are wrong, what you are doing is unfair!

Cue dramatic music as the mama shark snarls…

That’s all I have time for at the moment. Hope this wasn’t too inaccurate.
 

SharkByte, that was really good! From what I remember, spot on.
 

Hi!

I'm finally in Veracruz ready to start my summer, Mexico City had such a nice weather it almost pained me to leave. I haven't catched up with the recaps and episodes for this week. I saw until episode 87 before leaving but I will need to catch up to this one.

Abour Refugio: I agree with Vivi I don't think she was ever rich, just middle class like Patty. A middle class father would have as much or even MORE issues with his daughter marrying down, especially to someone without a formal education since the minimum wage in México is not enough to sustain a person, much less a family. That means the woman will also have to work to provide for the family(which is more accepted today than 25 years ago) for probably her whole life and that if something happens to their marriage (like a separation, a divorce or if she becomes a widow) and she has children then she'll probably have to go back home to receive help from her parents if she is lucky that they are still alive and can help her. And if they do help her then they'll have to sacrifice money saved for their older years to provide for a new family. I know this can happen in every society but I think these difficulties are bigger or more felt where the differences in distribution of wealth are so acute like in México, because you have both extremes as references for the possible future of your lineage.

Jarocha
 

Here is some more detail from the scenes between Teresa-shark and the momma-shark, and I apologize in advance for any inaccuracies:

Back at Fernando’s bachelor pad, Teresa is there, and Fernando is pouring her a drink. Fernando had apparently called her and left a message.

Teresa: When I heard your message on my phone, I could not resist the curiosity to come over and find out what you needed to tell me that was so important.

Fernando: Well, you did not have to bother coming up here. [Hands Teresa what looks like a glass of wine]

Teresa: Thank you [for the drink]. I hope you do not want to tell me that you want to stop [associating with me] due to my humble origins. [I really didn’t pick up what she said here].

Fernando: On the contrary, Teresa, I am very sorry for the way my mom behaved. You do not deserve such discriminatory remarks.

Teresa: Your mom has had the opportunity to shape [or change] your mind, but I'm glad you do not think like her, because I would not like to lose your friendship.

Fernando: That will not happen.

Teresa: [Makes a toast] So here's to my humble home.

Fernando: I ask you to understand my mom, she was well educated. My grandparents ... (doorbell chime) Excuse me.

[Surprise, surprise, the momma shark is at the door]

Oriana: Hello, dear.

Fernando: Hi Mama.

Oriana to Teresa: What are YOU doing here? WHY are you alone here with my son?

Teresa in her fake innocent tone: I do not understand why you ask me in that [suspicious] tone, I only came here in passing to thank your son for convincing me to go to Europe with Arturo.

Oriana snaps: You couldn’t come up with another excuse?

Fernando: Mama, please, Teresa is my friend and a married woman.

Oriana quips: A married woman who is about to get DIVORCED. It does not seem right that she is alone with you in your apartment!

Teresa: Well I’m sorry you judge me so harshly Oriana. It’s not my preference that we are alone, but Luisa was delayed.

Oriana snarling: I hope that's true. In any event, it looks bad. [That’s my guess at the gist of what she was saying; I really didn’t catch it.]

Oriana says with her shark teeth showing: I do not think a married woman should be alone with a single man, you should have waited for Luisa [you hussy]!

Teresa: I'm friends with Luisa and she will not think this looks bad.

Oriana sneering: Oh, I know those of your class, you are here for another reason [ulterior motive].

Teresa: Lord, I hope someday you realize that you're misjudging me and are being unfair.

The doorbell rings and Luisa enters: Sorry I’m late, but I went shopping.

[Fernando and Teresa look at Oriana with an “I told you so” look in their eyes]

I'll continue this in another post, as there is a limit to the number of characters for each post.
 

Continuing with the scene at Fernando’s apartment:

Luisa and Oriana chat, then Louisa says to Teresa: What’s wrong?

Teresa: Nothing important. Oriana was surprised to see me alone with your boyfriend, but I explained you were delayed.

The scene continues with Teresa talking to Arturo via cell phone, telling him that she is with Luisa and Fernando.

Teresa says something to the group and I think it is that Arturo says to go ahead and go eat.

Teresa to Oriana: Do you have any objection eating with us? [or do you have a problem eating with us; I didn’t exactly understand what she was saying here].

Oriana begins to sharpen her shark teeth: No, Teresa, on the contrary. What about if we let my son and his girlfriend go on their own, and you and I stay here together and get to know each other better?

Teresa sharpens her teeth as well and replies: Yes, yes, nothing would give me more pleasure, Oriana.

[Fernando & Luisa go to the door and are about to leave]

Oriana to Fernando & Luisa: You kids go on, Teresa and I will have another glass of wine.

Fernando gives Oriano the keys to his apartment and tells her to lock up.
 

The scene continues at Fernando's:

After Fernando & Luisa leave, Oriana snaps at Teresa: Ok, stop pretending, Teresa; you can remove the mask. You are nothing more than a low-class social climber.

Teresa: WHY do you insist on offending me? Just because I had the luck to be born into a family with little money?

Oriana: Because it's not just about money, there are also other things to consider, such as the pedigree and good breeding of a person, which of course you do not have. [she thoroughly enjoyed saying that]

Oriana: Just looking at you, I realize what you're capable of.

Teresa: What do you mean, ma'am?

Oriana: Oh please, I know plenty of women like you.

Teresa: Why are you afraid of someone coming up from a lower social standing? Perhaps you were like me before you married Fernando's father?

Oriana snaps: God forbid! Just so you know, I belong to one of the BEST families in the country, we know who our ancestors are for centuries and have always had the precaution of not letting people from the lower classes come into our family. Because Arthur is like a son to me, and Luisa is going to be my daughter soon, I’m looking out for them.

Teresa: I'm not “una arribista” ma'am. And I hope you will give me an opportunity to prove it. [I have no idea what “una arribista” means.]

Oriana snarls: It's a shame that Arthur made such a mistake in choosing his wife. But I know you're one of those who will stop at nothing to get what you want. And I warn you that if you want a divorce from Arthur, that's your problem, but then you better go pursue someone else, not MY son, or YOU WILL FIND OUT WHAT I’M CAPABLE OF!

[stinging dramatic shark music]

Teresa: I am terribly offended of what you think of me! [she says, as if she’s not a gold digging tiburoncita] Also, don’t you think Fernando is already old enough to make his own decisions?

Oriana: A mother is always on the lookout for their children, no matter their age.

Teresa: I not only understand that, but I admire it, and I am happy to watch over and defend your son. [I had to laugh when she said that]. [This next part I didn’t quite understand, it sounded like she said something about either falling for Fernando when she met him, or feeling bad when she met him].

Oriana: I do not believe you, my son is a natural seducer. [that seemed kind of GROSS to have someone’s mom say that, but that’s what I think she said. The phrase was “mi hijo es un seductor por naturaleza”.]

Teresa: Yeah, there's the problem, I was concerned for Luisa (or helping her).

Teresa: I love her like a sister and thought that Fernando was going to hurt her, and that he would not take her seriously, but eventually I changed my mind. Fernando has acted as a great friend to Arthur and me. So I hope that he will really be good to Luisa and make her his wife. [she says this with a sly smile]

Oriana: Of course he's going to make her his wife, I have no doubt.

Teresa: Good. At least we agree on something.

[Teresa grabs her purse]

Teresa: Shall we go?

Sorry for the spots where I couldn’t quite get what they were saying.
 

Arribista = social climber.

Teresa said she found Fernando off-putting when she first met him; that he seemed a total Casanova use 'em and lose 'em type and she was afraid he'd treat Luisa the same as the others.

Oriana, of course, claims that Teresa MUST have been attracted to her rich seductive son from the get-go. Which we know is true, but it's still rude and gross to say.
 

Oriana is AWESOME!!!
 

Additionally, Oriana is picking Teresa -- the bruja -- apart: I love it!