Caray, Caray!

Hi guys! I'm just filling in for Gloria tonight.

(Esmeralda, María, Angélica and Josefina have also taken the night off. You don't suppose they are all at La Escondida?)

:D
 

Thanks NovelaMaven for this wonderful recap before I retire for the evening. I enjoyed your title/theme and your observations on how Pedo "handles" his job. It would be fun if the ladies you mentioned were all hanging out at La Escondida ;)

Graceless continues to earn her name. While hre statements aren't completely shocking at this point, her ruthlessness does make me think about a suggestion you or another blogger made about Gracie needing a real job to focus her energies. Perhaps if given real leadership responsibilities (as some money and status), she wouldn't be such a tyrant now? And Fabs is turning out to be quite like her mom.

Hopefully one day the writers will really give Ale a brain b/c his ability to believe that Macario and Victor would betray him when Maria did so regularly is quite sad. And it shouldn't surprise us that poor Padre lost points again by equating murder w/a missed burial based on the bad decisions he and his protege continue to make.
 

NovelaMaven:

Thanks so very much for this wonderful, poetic recap, replete with your humorous bits and grammar. I missed this epi, but reading your recap brought it alive for me.

I too don't get the Padre about the burial of the bebe. I love how he sticks it to Graceless, and wow, has she got some resentment against Don Benny, besides the money that is.

I have been thinking about the convo between JL and Capitan Robledo. This is just a guess, but could this be a setup to make it look as if JL is being drummed out of the Navy? I find it hard to believe that he would be drummed out for this. Just a guess, but maybe we'll find out more later.

Can you just see Addled as Mayor, guffaw and chortle, chortle! Peddy would be pulling some strings that's for sure. EZ's response is just typical.

I wonder if Sandho is even a lawyer? Why is he so afraid to see Lic Cervera? Hmmmmm...... I wonder how Peddy will handle this now? Rosie couldn't have gotten Benny to change the will. Rosie was still in the prison when Benny died. She was released afterwards. This will be a sticky wicket for Peddy that's for sure.

I am so glad that the Captian stuck it to Peddy too. I just knew the Capitan had way more strings to pull than Peddy any day. I still don't know how Peddy thinks he will be the Governor. Look what happened the last time. Hmmmmmm........

Thanks again Novelamaven for this most marvelous recap : )


 

Excellent work, NovelaMaven.

I completely agree that Graceless needs a job; that would take away some of her energy at manipulating those around her. However, she would redeploy that energy into micro-managing employees.

Sandro's fear at encountering Cevera definitely indicates something is fishy. He may or may not actually be a lawyer, but I'm sure Cevera could dig up dirt on him.

I dearly hope that when we get back to the jail visit scene with Macario Alejandro realizes that Fabiola is bad news with worse fashion sense. He needs a flashback to her "request" for the wills because the theft needs to be noticed toute suite.
 

NovelaMaven, thanks for the fantastic recap to go along with my coffee this a.m.

Worst scene: Ale stuck in his "monkey brain" going around and around in his head about JL-Montse one more time. I wanted to fast-forward but I was watching it live.

Best scene: Robledo being able to shout louder than Pedro, calling him on his lies, and trumping him on power.

Most stupid scene: Fabiola and Sandro talking about their business in full earshot of Pedro's secretary and then leaving.

Most intriguing scene: The exchange between Graciela and Padre Anselmo. Sure took her long enough to tell him the truth about the baby. I guess she just wanted to torment him letting him think she had killed the baby because she knew that is what he thought all this time.

Jarifa


 

Not a huge fan of Mondays but I found myself humming "Happy" while reading your simply wonderful recap NovelaMaven. Sheer heaven.

Too many marvelous lines to list them all but "A municipal president outsources when appropriate, but maintains strict process control", "he leaves her alone with her righteous indignation", "Pedro enjoys the disappointment followed by the sour forced smile on EZ's face as he assimilates the latest humiliation" were particularly exceptional. "A municipal president recognizes the contributions of his subordinates and uses rivalry to motivate them to excellence" made me smile in delight. Superb.

Fear, intimidation, berating, screaming - all very effective emotions Pedro has in his well stocked arsenal of vile "management" tactics.

Karen, ITA about Gracie. Do we think Pedro made the wrong move in making Adolfo the Pres in waiting? No doubt Gracie would do masterful justice in continuing Pedro's reign of terror. And yes, it's a sad day when Macario is out thinking Ale by mentioning Fab. Sigh...

Madelaine, I was cheering when Robledo told Pedro Ale was being released. Finally, someone who can stand up to Pedro.

Missing Fina and Dimitrio and Angelica...Hoping for a little lightness soon...

A huge thank you to Julia and Elvira for your recaps - they were great.

NovelaMaven, thank you for starting the week off so splendidly.

Diana
 

Loved your recap, NM, based on all the important skills Fofo will have to learn. Did he really tell Fofo to get a haircut? So grooming raw talent means actual grooming?

Uh, NM, do you think it would help to have Ale study Othello in while in prison?

Loved your description of Fabiola. "in a too-small fedora that makes her face look enormous, as if she were a very large toddler". Scary.

Finally, I know what the title of the show means, "The life you stole from me". I thought something like, "The life I robbed myself of".
You have nailed the reason I don't recap with your verb lesson. Please explain why pluperfect is fun, because I have yet to understand what you may be meaning.





 

NovelaMaven,

Thanks as always for the beautifully written summary, your command of the English language, the unusual perspectives through which you choose to write and organize your thoughts, and your knowledge of Spanish grammar. How much formal time have you spent studying Spanish?

Did you say last week that Mr.Maven
is from Boston where I am from?
I, too, know the game of Keep Away.
His description of it was entirely accurate.

This novela is trying my patience...
very dragged out and going around in circles.

Thanks to all commenters.
 

Good morning, diehard Robo fans!

I thought this was kind of a sly episode with lots of small surprises tucked away. I appreciate your kind words, my friends.

Karen, I'm glad you enjoyed the recap and pleased you got what I meant about padre's odd value system. No wonder his flock flounders so.

I can't take credit for planning Graciela's career. Perhaps our resident life coaches, Susanlynn and Julia, made those excellent suggestions. (On reflection, probably not -- unless Graciela had forked over a briefcase full of cash first.) :D

Mads:

I'm also intrigued by Sandro's secret. I've always figured he was a lawyer who was disbarred after some scandal or other -- maybe he has a prison record. But it would be fun if it were something a bit more colorful and unexpected.

I thought the scene between Robledo and Pedro was worth the price of admission. I guess now we really know whose is bigger. :)

Urban:

It certainly is time for Alejandro to pay attention to the malevolence of his 'prima.' ("bad news with worse fashion sense"-- ha!) For sure, no one else in the house likes her or trusts her.

Jarifa:

Loved your ranking of the scenes, especially this:
"Worst scene: Ale stuck in his "monkey brain" going around and around in his head about JL-Montse one more time. I wanted to fast-forward but I was watching it live."

I wanted to fast-forward but I was watching it live.,

That is hilarious!

Diana:

How lovely to have you back with us. I hope you had a nice visit with your aunt.

I particularly enjoyed these observations of yours:

"No doubt Gracie would do masterful justice in continuing Pedro's reign of terror. And yes, it's a sad day when Macario is out thinking Ale by mentioning Fab. Sigh..."
 

Dearest NovelaMaven,

Thanks so much for the fantastic recap which made me laugh out loud repeatedly. LOVED the speculation about Pedro's various duties and so many other lines. All of your intros to each of the scenes were wonderful--so smart and funny. I think my favorite line/observation of yours of the day had to be the the shout-out to DamFab:

[When DamFab was unjustly imprisoned, he used the time to study Othello. Just sayin...]

I agree. With all credit to SR who is a great actor (and my current favorite in TN-land) and who really impressed me last night in his scenes with JL especially, the character of Alejandro is such a ding dong compared to DamFab.

Honestly, would Ale really accuse Macario of telling Pedro about the money-firepit? Couldn't Ale have thought of the Fabiola option himself?

Also, thanks for the really interesting grammar lesson. If you have time, could you explain just a little more about why Gracie would use this construction instead of the conditional construction? Both are translated the same way into English, but I'm wondering if there's a subtle difference in usage in the Spanish?

Thanks again, NovelaMaven, for a wonderful recap!
 

Emarie:

Yes, Pedro really did tell Fofo to do something about his hair. Indeed, "grooming raw talent means actual grooming"!

And yes, Lo que la vida me robó = What life stole from me.

You shouldn't let my delight in grammar scare you away from recapping. Looking at the nuts and bolts of a sentence has almost nothing to do with speaking or understanding the language. But since you asked, I will try to explain why I thought the pluperfect subjunctive was fun, while the rest of you avert your eyes:

There is a kind of sentence in English and Spanish that has this structure:

If someone had X'd, then someone would have Y'd.
If I had thought better of it, I would have avoided the issue.
If I had bought more avocados, I would have made more guacamole.

These sentences are contrary to fact conditionals: They all carry this implied message:
If I had done something (but I didn't), something else would have happened (but it didn't and I can't go back and change the past.)

Most of us learn to construct this kind of sentence like this:

Si me hubieras dicho la verdad , yo te habría creído.
(If you had told me the truth, I would have believed you.)
If + pluperfect subjunctive, then + conditional perfect.

In the sentence I cited in the recap, both the 'if' and the 'then' part are a little different from what beginners are taught to expect.

Specifically looking at the THEN part --
Instead of saying:
no me habría quedado a esperar a mi hija

Graciela says:
no me hubiera quedado a esperar a mi hija

That is, she uses the pluperfect subjunctive where we novices would use the conditional perfect

As I understand it, the meaning is completely unchanged. In fact, when I listen for these sentences 'in the wild,' I find the Graciela version to be the more common one.

If there are any Spanish teachers out there (or any other grammar fiends), please tell me if I am mistaken in anything I just said.
 

Floridia:

I'm always delighted when you stop by to comment. It's nice to know you enjoy my 'unusual perspectives.' And I never suspected you were a native Bostonian -- your name is deceptive. :)

My Spanish has been very haphazardly acquired over the past ten years. I never studied the language in school, but I have done several month-long immersion programs in Guatemala and Mexico. I kind of cobble together my own path of study. As you might imagine, there are glaring gaps in my knowledge.

The bottom line -- I just love languages and language, and I'm always working on one language or another.

Dear Julia Rold:

Thank you so much for your detailed and too kind comment. It's nice to know that DamFab lives on in your heart too.

I think I answered your grammar question -- to the best of my limited ability -- in what I wrote to Emarie: the variant constructions are completely interchangeable (though I like to show off with a 'hubiera...hubiera' now and then, especially prefaced by a 'Bueno pues...'). Does that ring true for you?
 

Alejandro hasn't had a chance to observe his greedy "cousin" as the others have. He was suspicious initially, but doesn't have the advantage that Macario and Monserrat have of having observed her.

Interesting that Pedro is looking at the inherent difficulties in the situation.

He has no intention of grooming Adolfo to replace him, but he knows that Adolfo isn't the sharpest knife in the drawer. And EZ is either somewhat dull himself not to see that or just too sadistic to stop and think about this. If he thought about it enough he would have to realize that Adolfo would want to get rid of Pedro as much as he does, even if for different reasons.
 

Holy Cow, NovelaMaven! Pinch hitting at its very best! Will you be allowed back in the rotation tonight?

Thank you for the grammar lesson. I've made some notes and will save the phrases. This is so useful and beneficial for which I thank you so much. When I see it in writing, I "look" for it with my ears when I listen to my friends who are native speakers.

I listen to CNN news in Spanish in the car and try to catch Spanish language news broadcasts online or on the TV. This has been very helpful.

As for our friends in Agua Azul, I reserve comment for now.

Thank you for that wonderful job description of Mr. Municipal Mayor himself!!

Fatima
 

NovelaM--I'll be back to sing your praises over your pinch-hit. (I think it was a home run.)

I just have to share with everybody--I saw Fabiola's fedora on some gal advertising Toyotas on LQLVMR. I actually sat up straight and did a double take. Once I got past the irony, I decided the model looked better in the HAT than Fabi does.
 

Anita, that is hilarious! You need to post a screen shot!!

Fatima
 

Hi Fatima!

Gloria and I just switched nights this week. With any luck at all, we should have one of her fabulous, detailed recaps complete with her trademark deadpan humor tomorrow morning. And I'll be back next week in the usual slot.

I'm glad to hear that the grammar riff didn't bore you to tears.

Anita:

Now you have me intrigued. I'll have to look for that commercial (I usuallly FF through them -- we get some truly dreadful ones on my local station). At first blush, though, it doesn't sound like a brilliant sales strategy. :D

Urban:

I agree that Alejandro hasn't had the same opportunity to observe his hard-drinking, nosy and insulting cousin as the rest have. I'm sure he'll catch up and catch on quickly. Subtle she's not.

Actually, Pedro might be serious about Adolfo -- a nice-looking, malleable, well-born guy who can be programmed to kill his own girlfriend. Perfect, no?
 

NM--A masterpiece. Poor Municipal president wouldn't like your report to be made public. We'll just keep it here among ourselves.

Fatima--I don't know how to do screen shots and I've deleted the episode. If I recall correctly, Ms. Hatted was posing as a buyer. She seemed overly happy. I'll look for it tonight.

NM--Speaking of off screen moments, loved the image of Monserrat stamping her pretty little foot.

Love the word bamboozled. We don't get to use it enough. It's a stretch, but here's what the on-line Etymology Dict. says:

1703, originally a slang word, perhaps Scottish from bombaze "perplex," related to bombast, or the French embabouiner "to make a fool (literally 'baboon') of."

Love your grammar lessons. I read them very carefully making note of every nuance, then fall back into grammatical ignorance. The English who and whom still give me pause, as does the proper form of a personal pronoun when it is the object of a preposition followed by and [John stood up to sing with her and James.]

Ah, DamFab and his jailhouse education, thanks to Claudio.

Ah, Ale, you didn't think of Fabi first when wondering who ratted you out....well, she has always been nice, sweet and helpful while staying at the ranch. She even took the initiative to bury the money to *help* you, so she said. I don't think they saw her at the beach while they were burning the cash. Meanwhile, all the things she's done with evil intentions have been done behind the scenes.

Ah, Dofito, pink jeans and lime green shirts will not inspire leadership around city hall.

Ah, Gracie, how did you manage to convince Lauro you were a virgin after giving birth? Did we get any clues?

Ah, Fabi & Sandy, you didn't follow the lesson from your own book of thieves regarding talking infront of a third party? OTOH, the secretary didn't look as though she would know what to do with that information--unless we find out later on she's a particularly good friend of Nadia's.

Ah, Captain, my Captain. Hooray for Capt. Robledo. If he's the only person in Agua Azul to stand up to Pedro, I hope he doesn't suffer a heart attack or some other debilitating event (like death at the hands of Pedro, EZ or Dofito) before all the twists and turns in this telenovela is resolved.
 

There I go...ARE resolved. (Practice makes perfect.)
 

Capt Robledo did the most bravest and stupid thing he could have done,he could have dialed these people without confronting Pedo,he just set himself for an "unexpected" death. I fear for Padre Anselmo and Cervera too they appear to be next on the hitlist :(
 

NovelaMaven,

I began my study of Spanish at about the same time as you....never studied it in high school or college. Like you, I am a grammar fiend, so please keep those fascinating advanced phrases coming our way.

I studied for one week in Mexico
7 years ago in Playa del Carmen. Then I made three one-month visits to a language school in Antigua,
Guatemala, 2008, 2009, 2011 ..
at a school called APPE. Is your husband a native speaker?

Fatima,

For over 4 years, I have been
listening to CNN en Espanol in my car. When I began, I understood almost nothing, and now I understand
almost everything. It's fabulous.
That's all I listen to in my car.
It has really trained my ear. I also joined a local Hispanic literary book club at the public library. They all read one book a month. All are Hispanic except me.
Depending on the time I have, I read the book in Spanish, but if I have no time, I will read the book in English if one is available.
My goal is to be able to say something half way intelligent about the book and say it in Spanish at the meeting. Each person only speaks for a few minutes, so I don't need to feel guilty for not reading the whole book in Spanish. For this group,
my goal is to speak. When I have time, I do read the books in Spanish. I have also made some Hispanic friends through this group where I had none before. (I know, I lived a sheltered existence in the suburbs of Boston and elsewhere.) We take turns going to each others house and going out to lunch. This gives me the opportunity to speak Spanish, which I did not have before. Learning Spanish is a passion for me. I love the language and all that goes with it.
 

Our Novela Maven:

Thank you so much for this delightfully organized and themed recap. Your coherent theme lent fitness to our flabby telenovela.

You wrote:
"JL is comfortable with his decision and its consequences, including jail time."

This plot point has me shaking my head. Sure, I am willing to go to jail for a guy who SHOT ME. No problem. Think of me as, say, honorable.

No, JL. I think of you as stupid.

Maven and all: It is just me or do all the foreshadowings lead us to imagine poor Victor as dead—at Pedro's direction. Smile.His character is perhaps the least developed in the show so far. Are the writers hitting us over the head with a brick, or what?

My favorite line of the recap?

"[When DamFab was unjustly imprisoned, he used the time to study Othello. Just sayin...]".

Wonderful, Maven. Your ironic detachment is in place and fully operational in this delightful recap.

Let's hear it for all of those hunkered down in the Bunker!

Thank you very much for filling in for Gloria.

Gloria, I hope you are doing well.

Elna June
 

Thanks,Novela Maven, for filling in for Gloria and giving us our daily fix of novela news.

If you have seen the new Disney animated movie "Frozen" (I have seen it once in the theater and about a hundred times on tv), you are familiar with a certain character..a funny snowman with an abundance of joie de vivre, His name is Olaf and upon meeting anyone, he cheerfully tells them that he likes "warm hugs." JL seems to share his philosophy....lots of hugging and bromance going on last night.
 

Ohmigawd,NovelaMaven, you had me on the floor with all those tongue-in-cheek observations on Pedro's management style. Just wonderful. Straight out of a wise-ass business textbook. And like Elna June and others, loved:

[When DamFab was unjustly imprisoned, he used the time to study Othello. Just sayin...]

Yes, I found Alejandro's 'round the mulberry bush jealousy rants soooo boring. Too much like real life, when we obsessively mentally loiter over some perceived slight or injustice. Heck, he's not even looking attractive anymore, he's so tedious.

Loved the Grammar Nerd exposition and all the comments and study info it turned up. Although my eyes glaze over when speaking about the conditional I WANT to get grammar, and I want, one day, to "dominar el idioma" But it will never come from studying grammar books, though I wish it would. Well, maybe if I had a real life fab teacher in Mexico or Guatemala and experienced total immersion. Nevertheless...I LOVE YOUR LESSONS. As I said before, you both amuse and inform. You're the kind of prof I always wanted...sharp, great sense of humor, thorough grasp of the material and high expectations. Hey and we get all this for free! Life is good. Thanks, NovelaMaven.
 

Floridia,

Wow. You are really doing all the right things. I'm very impressed. And no, Mr. Maven isn't a native speaker of Spanish. (As a matter of fact, he doesn't know ANY Spanish. Drat.) I'm not familiar with APPE. I've studied at Tecún Umán and PLFM in Antigua. Lately I've been thinking about another trip, but it's still in the rumination stage.

Dear Elna June:

While I am thrilled that you found something to enjoy in the recap, I'm a little disappointed that you found it marked by Ironic Detachment. I was trying very hard to enjoy the sunshine on The Patio of Lowered Expectations, having recently come to terms with Lo que la novela me robó (a deluded belief that this novela was actually...um...you know...good).

I share your puzzlement over the character of José Luis. Ninety-nine bottles of beer on the wall and the damn writers still haven't decided who this guy is.

I do think that poor Victor is expendable. I've tried not to get too attached to him.

Anita, I appreciate the vote of confidence. I'm glad you and Floridia are both getting a kick out of the little grammatical excursions.

Thanks for the etymology of bamboozled. The concept is so common in these parts, you'd think we'd be able to work it into every single recap. (Hey, there's a thought!)

Demetrios:

My goodness, now you are making me worry. The only comfort I take is that Pedro and Sandro and Fabiola are each "WHAT'S IN IT FOR ME?" kind of folks. I think they are each other's worst enemies.

Susanlynn:

I haven't seen Frozen, but I can imagine Olaf from your description. And yes, there was lots of bromance last night. The most striking moment for me was that little head on the shoulder thingie that JL did just before leaving Alejandro. It was so strange -- kind of like Rambo goes Gumbo or something.
 

Sorry this is so late. I just now transcribed my notes for the list and, as usual when I wait too long, I’m not sure what the heck I was trying to say in some cases.

Week of March 24, 2014:

Low Points:

Pedro and EZ plot to put the final nail in Ale’s coffin.
Gracie at the funeral.
Pedro at the funeral.
Fab tells JL that Mons still loves him.
JL tells Mons he still loves her.
Again with the head poke. Someone cut that woman’s fingers off.
Maria is being scarier than usual.
Pedro wants Maria to get the note from Ale.
Ale tells Maria that Padre A has the note.
Fab plans to marry JL.
Gracie is her usual charming self to Tia.
Maria steals the note.
Nadia is preggers (stupid woman).
Pedro hears about the note.
Fab nags about the wills.
Pedro beats Maria.
Scoobies still believe JL is against them.
Pedro destroys the note.
EZ seems so sincere with Tia.
Tia proposes.
EA proposes back.
Mons believes JL beat Maria.
Mons is an idiot.
I’m so sick of Mons.
Gracie is a buzz kill re: Tia’s “good” news.
Juvie siting.
JL forces a kiss on Mons.
JL is pathetic.
Maria is still trying to work Ale.
Fab tries to make Angie doubt JL’s loyalty and love.
Pedro plans to murder Maria.
Ale/JL talk.
Fab/Sandro in bed. Eww moment.
Vic is an idiot opening the safe with Fab in the room.
Alpo pulls the trigger which, blanks or not, makes him a killer.
Fab tells Pedro JL helped Ale burn the money.
EZ puts Esme in danger by having her hide Maria.
Fab gets the wills (stupid Vic).
JL gets fired.
JL’s final salute.
Gracie smarms all over Fina.
Pedro thinks Alpo killed Maria, which puts A. in the position of being a Pedro contract killer.
 

Highpoints:

SB has no family to threaten.
Ale tells Mons to wait to give Fab any documents.
Ros gets to visit her son.
JL not fooled by Fab.
Ale gets the note out.
Mons comforts the Arichega women.
Alpo is feeling guilty.
JL is suspicious of Fab.
Nadia and Vic get in to see SB.
SB won’t talk.
Tia gets her own back.
EZ starts to betray Pedro.
Padre A. finally realizes he’s a screw up.
Dim goes after the note.
EZ plots.
Tia stands up to Gracie.
Mons overhears Maria say it was not JL who beat her.
Mons apologizes to JL.
Mons knees JL.
Nadia stands up to Pedro and demands Ale be released.
Nadia defends JL to Mons.
JL so not intimidated by Pedro.
JL lies for Ale re: the money.
Esme makes Maria a maid.
Robledo promises to keep Angie in the dark.
Dim’s first “te amo” to Fina.
Fina forgives Gracie.

Thanks to all the recappers and commenters last week. No recap, no comments—no lists. I’m not really watching this one at the moment. At least it’s past its half-way mark—unless they plan on extending it to 200+ eps.

NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!


 

Thanks for the lists, Nanette. As you have noted, this story is now in the Slough of Despond and pretty unbearable to watch (but I'm learning Spanish, I'm learning Spanish).

Sweet that you put "Fina forgives Graciela" in the High Point list. I was okay with that too, since it speaks to Fina's kindly, no grudge held character. But lots of folks here were horrified that she was so nice to Graciela and fell for her latest let's-be-friends maneuver. Still, I DID find myself wondering if Graciela ever gave the rose back. She seemed to have taken ownership of it while they talked.
 

Dear JudyB:

Thank you so much. I'm so glad you enjoyed my take on The Pedro Hour. You are certainly a good sport about my grammar rants. I love how you turn a deaf ear to the whispers on the Patio ["Don't say that to NM -- you're only ENCOURAGING her!"]

I'm actually finding both members of the Golden Couple quite tedious. The previews suggest that we will watch them mate again tonight. Oh goody.

Nanette:

Thanks again for your fab (if not DamFab) lists. This series of lows really cracked me up:

Mons believes JL beat Maria.
Mons is an idiot.
I’m so sick of Mons.
 

Amen to finding Montse tedious as well. Occasionally I see a HuluPlus ad for Teresa and the actress looked so much more interesting there as an evil brunette. The Barbie-Doll cleavage blouses and pouty mouth have lost a bit of luster lately. At least with me. Can't speak for the menfolk.
 

Susanlynn, I meant to say:

Rambo goes Gumby (not Gumbo! What's okra got to do with it?)

Sheesh. And I don't even have an ipad to blame. :D
 

Thanks so much for your list Nanette. I hope you are well and have to believe they will not try to extend this tn any more.

NM I forgot to mention that I too enjoyed your DamFam comment. I miss him too :(
 

Thanks,Novela Maven, for filling in for Gloria and giving us our daily fix of novela news.

If you have seen the new Disney animated movie "Frozen" (I have seen it once in the theater and about a hundred times on tv), you are familiar with a certain character..a funny snowman with an abundance of joie de vivre, His name is Olaf and upon meeting anyone, he cheerfully tells them that he likes "warm hugs." JL seems to share his philosophy....lots of hugging and bromance going on last night.
 

NovelaMaven – Your wit and keen observations made last night’s episode downright entertaining, cause I was disappointed that Angélica, Esme, and Fina didn't turn up. I would've loved a girls' night out at La Escondida, even with Maria. But your recap was an afternoon delight. And - yeehaw! - a grammar lesson on the conditional. My favorites:

[When DamFab was unjustly imprisoned, he used the time to study Othello. Just sayin...]

Fabiola (in a too-small fedora that makes her face look enormous, as if she were a very large toddler)

ITA with all said about Ale not being too deep. All he can think about is Monse getting with JL? He hasn't even asked about the harvest, the income, recent photos of Laurito, a pillow, nada.

The only thing good about Angélica dying young is, hopefully, she won't find out what a stupid sap she married. So disappointed in how the JL-Angie story line is turning out. That *was* my No. 1 attraction.

My favorite scene was the check dispute between Pedro and EZ. I'm wondering if Pedro is playing EZ, cause he hasn't even asked for evidence that Maria is dead. He seems to be baiting EZ.


 

NovelaMaven,
Thanks for the recap. As usual it was fabulous! What a treat to have you recap a Monday night epi. My favorite lines have been mentioned. And yes, I loved the mention of DamFab studying Othello on LT. But he had the wonderful Claudio, and my poor Ale has no one. He is disconnected from the outside world, and until recently was denied visitors.

My favorite moment last night was Robledo out-shouting Pedo. YES! Loved it. I just hope that Robledo stays safe.

Thanks for the lesson. I love reading those. I grew up speaking both English and Spanish, and I would love to learn Italian and/or French.

Fofito as mayor? Dios mio!! It would be like having Pedo in office, because he would still be calling the shots. Maybe Victor should run for mayor, or Refugio? No, I think Dimi would make a great Presidente Municipal. And that would make Fina the First Lady of Aguazul.

Can't wait for Ale to FINALLY get out of jail tonight. Thanks Capitan Robledo!

Nanette,
Thanks for your entertaining lists. They are always appreciated.

Back to work...hasta pronto!
 

Novela Maven

I really enjoyed your dispassionate, astute, tweet-like subtitles... "A Municipal President", etc.

It reminds me of the style Jennifer Egan used in her short story " The Black Box", published in the June 4, 2012 issue of the New Yorker.

It was a story about a futuristic female spy and her mission as recorded in her mission log.

Here are some excerpts:

"People rarely look the way you expect them to, even when you’ve seen pictures".

"The first thirty seconds in a person’s presence are the most important".

"If you’re having trouble perceiving and projecting, focus on projecting".

"Necessary ingredients for a successful projection: giggles; bare legs; shyness".

"The goal is to be both irresistible and invisible".

"When you succeed, a certain sharpness will go out of his eyes".
 

JudyB: just read your comment and I am NOT sweet. The Fina forgives Gracie thingy was supposed to be in the lowpoints list. I think. Oh man, now I don't remember!! Am I sweet?! Am I horrible?! I DON'T KNOW ANYMORE!!!!
 

Thanks for another very thoughtful and insightful (not to mention incredibly entertaining and and amusing) recap, NovelaMaven.

I especially appreciate your acknowledgment that Capitán Robledo is not quit the paragon of virtue that many perceive him to be. Not only:

"Shoot a good officer in 'self-defense' while fleeing from custody? You get promoted."

But he allowed himself to be used by Graciela in the way JL's case was handled in the first place.

I'm not a fan... I like his sister better.

If poor JL ever had any pretensions of alpha maleism I think he seceded them with that embarrassing hug. What the heck was that?

I guess we will just have to imagine María on her knees scrubbing toilets. Maybe it's in Grettell Valdez's contract that she doesn't actually have to stoop to that.

I've no doubt that Pedro fully intends for Adolfo to take over as municipal president as he goes on to be what ever he's aspiring to next... maybe President of Mexico eventually?

Will Adolfo actually get a haircut? I think washing it and combing it would be sufficient.

Lots of conversations tonight. My votes for best... Pedro and Zeke and Gracie and Padre... worst... Alejandro and JL and Alejandro and Rosario. (I'm tempted to say that whenever Alejandro is a participant we are in for a snoozefest).

So... who gets married first?

Carlota and Zeke?

Esmeralda and Refugio?

or a double wedding?

Carlos
 

Anita, I can,t help you with Spanish grammar, but I teach grammar to ESl students, so I can clear up dome things for you.

Who/whom.....who - used when referring to the subject (doer) of the sentence. (Ex. Who took Janie to the dance last night?). Whom - used when referring to the object (receiver) of the sentence. ( Whom did Johnny take to the dance last night? He took Janie!)

As for pronouns following prepositions, use object pronouns (me, you, him, her, it, us, you, them.). (Ex. I gave the gift to him. They made cakes for John and us. He sent letters to them. Mary went to the store with Janie and him. The girl threw the ball at me.)

Hope that helps. if not I will try to give a better explanation and more examples.
 

Karen:

It is good to know your heart still beats for DamFab. I guess we have to be fair and acknowledge, as AuntyAnn points out, that Alejandro had no Claudio to share his cell. There was no Great Books Discussion Group in the Aguazul Reclusorio. Not really conducive to mental health...

Now that I think of it, Alejandro had no wise madrina in his formative years. (Now THAT was a mother figure -- no stinkin' make-over needed for her!)

Niecie:

You got some zingers in today! I love your itemized list:

"He hasn't even asked about the harvest, the income, recent photos of Laurito, a pillow, nada."

Yes, a pillow! That has really been bothering me. My neck hurts every time he stretches out flat on that sarcophagus of a bed covered only by a thin blanket.

And this:

"The only thing good about Angélica dying young is, hopefully, she won't find out what a stupid sap she married."

As for Pedro baiting EZ, isn't that what he has always done? He flatters him, gets him to let down his guard a bit and then ....THWAPPP! It's a dangerous game, of course, because EZ's reserves of sadism and aggression run as deep as Pedro's.

AuntyAnn:

"But he had the wonderful Claudio, and my poor Ale has no one."

Yup. Very true. (Don't think you snuck in the possessive without anyone noticing, kiddo. "my poor Ale..." hahahaha)

"I grew up speaking both English and Spanish, and I would love to learn Italian and/or French."

It's so terrific that you grew up in a bilingual environment. Do you consider one of your languages to be dominant? I hope you get a chance to study Italian or French. (You start with a huge advantage over someone who only speaks English.)
 

NM: Yes, I was pretty much done with Mons when I wrote that.

Karen: Thanks. I am fine, hope you are the same. This TN makes me angry and cringy and wishing for more Dim/Fina moments and why can't the good guys when for a change and why are the good guys so stoopid? Argh!!!!

AuntyAnn: I enjoy your comments, as well.
 

NovelaMaven—I just wanted to emerge from lurkdom long enough to add my voice to those expressing appreciation for your wonderful grammar lessons. It seems that many of us watch TNs at least partly to improve our understanding of Spanish, so I think the lessons are always most welcome. I’m always impressed with the points you choose to elaborate, especially when they touch on that wonderful element in the language, the subjunctive, which we have almost completely lost in English. It allows such elegant and expressive possibilities in Spanish. One of my favorites is, “Todos tienen cola que les pisen” (I can’t remember which TN I picked that one up from—maybe it was Carmen Salinas in PEAM). I don’t think you could get that much flavor into so few words in English.

I had never encountered the “De haber sabido . . .” phrase used by Graciela, although it makes perfect sense after your explanation. I wish I could say the same the use of “de” in the title of the TN that airs before “Por Siempre Mi Amor.” No matter where I look for that use of “de que” I come up with nothing. Three dictionaries, four grammar books and SpanishDict.com online: nada, zilch. I sort of get it, but it’s a little frustrating not to find any documentation.

It was also interesting to read about your history studying Spanish. You’re so good it’s still hard for me to believe you’re not a native speaker, although just your knowledge of the fine points of grammar sort of gives you away. Not many people have that much interest in the nuts and bolts of their native language, unless they’ve been trained in the techniques of teaching it to learners (Susanlynn being a case in point IIRC).

One last comment—as I was reading the recap and comments I glanced over at the scrolling list of people reading the blog at the time and was amazed to see not only Ecuador but also Estonia and Cyprus represented. I think I’ve also seen Kenya and Romania among other far-flung locations. I know, I know, that’s why they call it the World Wide Web, but I still take it as a testament to the universal appeal of a good story, as well as to the intelligence and dedication of all the recappers and commenters. Thanks to all!

A Grammar Fan

 

NovelaMaven,

I see that you are a New Yorker fan.
I've been subscribing for years.
Lately, they arrive so fast, I have no time to read them. I just pile them up and eventually give them to a friend. My children read them as well, so if they mention something, I can rush to find my copy and bone up so as not to appear overly illiterate in their eyes.

I suggested to Vivi a few years ago that someone needs to write an article on our novelas and submit it to the New Yorker for publication. It would be perfect for that magazine if the right person wrote it.

Now I know that you are that person. How about it? You would know how to include the appropriate blend of exposition and humor, and por supuesto write about the blogs. I think there was a blurb in the New Yorker or somewhere a few months back and Vivi contributed a valuable comment.

Before I started watching novelas, I must confess, I had no idea of the
high level of education most viewers on the blog seem to have.

I think this is a cultural phenomenon on the rise that the New Yorker audience needs to know.
Pienso que es tu obligación hacerlo.
 

Oxnard Huero:

I'm immensely flattered by your comparison. I am particularly taken with the last item you cite:

"When you succeed, a certain sharpness will go out of his eyes".

That particular one sounds as if it comes right out of Pedro's own playbook.

Carlos:

I'm so glad you enjoyed the recap today. We agree on so many things as long as we avoid discussing Srta Z. (who, by the way, I predict will be discovered by Angie in the course of planning the SURPRISE WEDDING (which really should have been held today, April Fool's Day)).

I particularly agree with your assessment of the conversations last night. Of course Gracie has been storing up her venom in silence for a while; she really needed an outlet.

Nanette:

I wouldn't worry about "sweet." A little goes a long way. :)

Susanlynn:

Thanks for the grammar tips! I'm tempted to tell people that if "who" and "whom" are problematic for them, they should stick with "who."

If you use "who" instead of "whom", you sound colloquial. [Who did you see last night? Who did you speak to?]

But if you use "whom" where "who" is correct, you sound silly.
 

OK. That should have been why can't the good guys *win*
 

NM...I usually tell my students that in everyday speaking, Americans do not bother to use "whom,, but they have to learn the correct use for formal writing in school and business. In fact, for trickier grammar points, I tell them NOT to ask their American friends , neighbors, and coworkers any grammar questions.
 

Dear Grammar Fan:

I am thrilled that you chose to emerge from lurkdom today to express your enthusiasm for grammar.

I think 5ft tried to explain the idiomatic meaning of "De que te quiero, te quiero" when the show started. You can look back and find her exact words in the comments during the first week, but basically she said it was a kind of intensifier. "You can doubt a lot of things, but take it as a given that I love you." Or maybe "I REALLY love you."

You made me curious so I looked in my favorite grammar reference [A new reference grammar of modern spanish by John Butt] and found something they call 'dequeísmo', "the misuse of 'de que' after verbs like 'decir'" So maybe the "de que te quiero, te quiero" thing is a truncated form of something like: Digo que te quiero --> Digo de que te quiero --> de que te quiero.

But I'm just blowing up smoke.

Now that we've introduced ourselves, I hope we see you around here again. We nerds have to stick together!

Floridia:

I appreciate the huge compliment, but you are seriously overestimating me. Besides, The New Yorker specializes in rejection, especially in the case of unsolicited manuscripts. (Have you seen the biopic on J.D. Salinger? He devoted years of his life trying to get them to publish one of his stories.) NovelaMaven, on the other hand, specializes in avoiding rejection -- or at the very least trying not to court it.
[rueful grin]
 

Dear Novela Maven:

I, too, want to thank you for the grammar lesson. The grammar and structural part of my brain do not work well these days. If I hear a phrase that sounds odd to me I have to stop and work out why that is.

You said:

"If someone had X'd, then someone would have Y'd.
If I had thought better of it, I would have avoided the issue.
If I had bought more avocados, I would have made more guacamole.

These sentences are contrary to fact conditionals: They all carry this implied message:
If I had done something (but I didn't), something else would have happened (but it didn't and I can't go back and change the past.)"

This was a wonderful clear explanation of the concept of contrary to fact conditionals. I so appreciate that you give us concrete examples rather than just abstractions.

With Appreciation,

Elna June
 

NovelaMaven,

Yes, now I see the advantage I had growing up in a bilingual home. Even though I speak both, I consider English to be the dominate language. When I talk to my mother or sister (or pretty much any family member) I almost always add in a Spanish word. Where I am from we call it Tex-Mex. Basically a mix of English and Spanish. I would love to learn Italian and visit a coastal Italian town. Has anyone here at Caray travelled to Italy? I would love to hear about your trip.

back to work...hasta pronto!
 

oops...

I meant to say "when I talk with (or speak with) my mother..."
 

N.V.

I'm immensely flattered by your comparison.

I like to make jokes but the writing styles/elements used by the recappers here deserve praise.


Here are a couple more quotes from the story.

"Kindness feels good, even when it’s based on a false notion of your identity and purpose".

"Being alone with a violent and ruthless man, surrounded by water, can make the shore seem very far away".

Words to live by?

 

AuntyAnn..My younger daughter studied for a semester in Florence, and Hub, older daughter, and I visited her there for a week. It was like a dream. The whole city of Florence is a museum. Hub and I only toured Florence, Sienna and Fiesole, but younger daughter traveled all over Italy. She especially loved Cinca Terra (sp) Five Hills. She went hiking there several times. I will always remember the wonderful time our family shared together. The first night in Florence, we ate at an outdoor cafe in a plaza with huge statues. I had to pinch myself. Every art history class I ever had came to life. Another night, hub and I ate by ourselves at a very tiny trattoria. Then, we took a walk to the Arno River , and a violinist was playing at the porches of the Uffizi Museum. I just sat down and cried. Magical and forever burned into my memory. You must go to Italy.
 

Aunty Ann..hub's maternal grandparents spoke a combination of English and Pennsylvania Dutch with each other. When they got excited or scared or angry, they would revert to Dutch. I grew up in an area where many people used to converse in Pa. Dutch. I learned many words just by being around it. Unfortunately, Pa. Dutch is rapidly disappearing.

My mother, aunts, and grandmother spoke German to each other, but did not teach it to any of the grandchildren. I think that they liked having a private way to communicate with each other that the children and husbands did not understand.
 

As a blonde I'd rather see AB as one. It actually bugs me to see us lose ground.
 

Susanlynn,
Thanks for sharing your wonderful memories of Italy. My hubby is also dying to go. We just need to make the time. Reading about your visit makes me want to pack my bags and leave tomorrow. We will make it there in the near future.

I know what you mean when you talk about having a private way to communicate. We do it in front of the nephews. Only problem is that the oldest nephew understands Spanish because his grandmother took care of him from birth til the age of 4. At least he will be bilingual.

back to work...hasta pronto!