What's been going on around these parts

Medical news
So it's been a while since my last post where I came clean about my PCOS diagnosis. Since then we've been busy with appointments with specialists, having tests done and hopefully beginning a successful treatment plan with a new doctor who I really, really like. I mean the guy busted out a white board to explain what our options are, how things will work and what the next steps are. Plus he studied in the USA which probably shouldn't make me feel more confident but it does.

 In other medical news, Jose fell while running a 10k race and was in a cast for having sprained his ankle. He missed a couple of weeks of work and was bored out of his mind. Since he was told to not move to give his ankle time to heal I was charged with all of the housework, cooking and basically slaving to make sure he was fed, showered and entertained for the last month or so (kind
of like having a baby). Needless to say we are all happy (except Cooper) that the doctor took Jose's cast off last week and that he's headed back to work on Monday.


Just like in the USA, people are freaking out about Ebola here in Spain. It is pretty much the only thing on the news besides Catalonia's (stupid) bid for independence and government corruption. I try not to read or listen too much to what people are saying about Ebola or I might freak out myself.

 Apartment updates

 We've also been doing a bit of work in our apartment. It never ends people. Before we went to spend the summer in the USA we bought a new, bigger dining room table. Our last table was one that we bought in our last apartment and that Cooper decided to be cool and gnaw the corners a bit the first time we left him home along. Needless to say it was time for an update.
When we got back from our summer back home we bought the matching buffet and spent literally 2 days putting it together. It wasn't even like we had to start over a few times because we had done something wrong. It was just really complicated and with a lot of different parts. I am happy with the way it turned out and now we have some extra storage. It's also a good place to decorate, especially for the holidays. I was able to actually find a real American pumpkin this year for Halloween. Score! (Usually the pumpkins here in Spain are squatty and greenish-yellow, fit for consumption but not for carving).


 We also decided to paint our headboard white because the gray color it was before didn't stand out enough on our dark blue wall. Jose spent the morning yesterday painting and when it stops stinking we will put it back on the wall. I haven't taken a photo yet but will probably post one when the whole project is finished up.


 Other happenings


 Last night we went to the Festival de las Naciones which is an event put on during the fall in Seville. A bunch of stands selling food and products from different countries around the world set up in a big park in the city center. They also have a big main stage where there are different performances every night. Jose and I go at least once a year to eat food from countries that we haven't visited before. In the past we have eaten from Argentina, Germany, Greece (which we have been to but the food is really good), Colombia and this year we went to Russia's stand. I would compare the food to what we ate in Hungary, rich and tasty.
Just to clear up any confusion, no we were not actually in Russia. Our next big trip is one we have planned over the Christmas holidays. We are headed back to Turkey which will check off another thing on my 30 before 30 list. 

 So there you have it, things here have been good if fairly uneventful due to Jose's injuries. Now that he is recovered maybe things will be a bit more interesting. I know that I will enjoy not having to go to the doctor's office several times a week. Yay!


Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

La mesa camilla

Image
The mesa camilla is a very Spanish invention (in fact I believe it to be a very southernly Spanish invention). It consists of a table, a heater and a heavy, long tablecloth-like fabric that drapes over the sides. The idea is that you put the heater under the table and when you sit down you put the fabric over you like a blanket. The truth is that it does keep you quite warm. The downside is that once you get up and move, you lose the heat. Since the houses and apartments here in the south of Spain are not created for the cold (no central heating) a mesa camilla can be found almost every where.  We didn't have one last year and survived with blankets, space heaters and flannel pajamas throughout the winter. This year Jose decided we needed to get a mesa camilla. I fought the good fight (since often times they look very similar to the option in the picture above) but we ended up ordering one not too long ago.  Typically the mesa camilla is made of wood and can be stored throu
Read more

Simple Spanish recipe: Chipirones a la plancha

Image
Ok so I know this picture is a bit blurry and I apologize but it is the final result of my having cooked chipirones a la plancha for the first time. Let me explain, chipirones are small squid and a la plancha means grilled. They are served in an olive oil, parsley and garlic sauce. At first I wasn't sold on the idea of this recipe but believe me, it is pretty awesome and super healthy. It is a really typical tapa that you can order at almost any bar here in the south of Spain. Chipirones a la plancha is usually served on a bed of lettuce or with a small side salad. Yum! Here's the how: First you need the chipirones (small squid that come with the heads and tentacles attached). I can buy them at my local grocery store in the fresh seafood section. I bought a package of 400 grams though the good thing about this recipe is that you can make as much or as little as you like. Allow me to also explain that here in Spain people tend to eat a lot more fish and seafood than
Read more

Spanish names

Image
Maaaaaaaria, I just met a girl named Maria Hopefully you just read that and sang the song from West Side Story in your head. Let's just say that from what I have experienced here in Spain, people really, really like this name. In fact, there are times when it seems like EVERY woman or girl is named Maria (or Maria de/l something) and though they might go by the second part of their name, their given one is still Maria. People definitely opt for traditional names here, unlike the US where names go through trends.  Recently a friend on Facebook posted a link which contained a GIF  (originally from The Atlantic)  showing the different female names that had been popular in the US since 1960. It is interesting to see how a name like Jennifer would be popular in one region and then would sweep the nation. Such a map would not be as cool here in Spain since not a whole lot would change. Maria. Maria del Carmen. Miriam. Marian. Mirian. Variations on a theme. Religious names I
Read more