Be Careful What You Wish For

OK.  I'm tired.  And Jerry is hot (and I don't mean that in a good way right now).  Jerry is melting from the summer heat and we are both exhausted from the seemingly endless tasks we have created for ourselves (yes, we both fully admit that this is all our doing).  I will not whine — well, maybe just a little.  We are hot, tired, and overwhelmed because we have chosen a path that was guaranteed to make us hot, tired, and overwhelmed.  When we get some rest or sip mojitos at Carmela (our new home-away-from-away-from-home) while enjoying a late-night breeze on the Plaza Maria La Blanca, we smile and marvel at how much we have accomplished and how much we continue to accomplish every day.

BEFORE SUNSET.  STOPPING, AGAIN, TO APPRECIATE ONE OF OUR VIEWS.

The man from the electric company met me at the apartment Friday (he gave me 10 minutes notice).  He inspected our circuit breakers and gave his approval for our power to be turned on.  We still don't know WHEN the power will be turned on.  Perhaps Thursday or Friday.  Sadly, we thought this step had already been accomplished a week ago.  But, we will not dwell on that.  It's progress.  By the way, electricity is not referred to as electricity here.  Everyone calls it simply "luz," which means light.

I lost my temporary mobile phone.  I bought another temporary mobile phone.  We then ordered a ton of furniture at IKEA and I provided my new temporary mobile phone number so they could call an hour before delivery.  My new mobile phone was not working, which began a minor IKEA fiasco.  After three days and more than that number of calls to IKEA and the privately contracted delivery/assembly service, the furniture was delivered.  Friday night at 10:00 (and it was a surprise).  It's amazing to live in a city where furniture deliveries are still being made at 10 pm on a Friday.  But, remember, we have no "luz."  The furniture (an apartmentful) was delivered mostly in the dark (well, by the light of the moon).  And I was on my feet the entire time.  No furniture to sit on.

A FEW BLOCKS AWAY.  ON MY WAY TO MEET THE TRUCK FRIDAY NIGHT.

Jerry waited back at the hotel and we then met for dinner and mojitos at Carmela. At midnight.  It's also amazing to live in a city where you can get tapas dinner in a plaza at midnight and, a block away, gourmet ice cream (Belgian Chocolate is Jerry's favorite) at 1:00 in the morning.

I was told the furniture would be assembled Saturday (today).  What time?  No one could tell me.  Someone would call Saturday and let me know.  At 8:45 Saturday morning, the ringing of my now-working mobile phone woke me up.  The assemblers were on their way to the apartment and would be there in less than 20 minutes.  "I need an hour to get there," I said.

FRIDAY NIGHT.  SOME ASSEMBLY REQUIRED.

The assemblers arrived at the apartment an hour and 15 minutes later.  I had opened all the windows and doors to get a good breeze going.  No "luz" means no air conditioning.  And, to the apparent surprise of one of the "assemblers," after about 2 hours of working, no luz also meant no re-charging of cordless screwdrivers.  (He tried plugging it in anyway and then complained to me about the lack of "luz.")  These guys were amazing.  Four assemblers accomplished (easily and flawlessly) in a few hours what Jerry and I would have needed an entire week to do.  Anyway, another three hours on my feet and I then walked the 20 minutes back to the hotel to meet Jerry for lunch.

Missing are the coffee table, Jerry's bed frame, and the slats for my bed.  We knew the coffee table and bed frame were on back order and would be in early next week (which might mean Friday).  The missing slats were a surprise when the guys were assembling the bed.  Another trip to IKEA will probably be required to get everything finalized.  We still don't know when our personal goods will arrive from where they're being stored in England.

I have been doing most of these local tasks because the heat really is too much for Jerry.  He does what's needed (and what can be done in English) behind the scenes.  His time will come.

WE BOUGHT A GREAT TV ON SALE AT EL CORTE INGLÉS.  ALL IT NEEDS IS "LIGHT."
BUT HAVE I MENTIONED THE VIEW?

We have selected an internet plan, a telephone landline plan, cable television, and mobile service for us both.  There was a problem with the "system" that caused a delay in finalizing the paperwork Friday.  So, we'll get that completed Tuesday (Monday is a national holiday).  But, as the sales rep explained to me, they won't install anything until we have "luz."

Had we moved from Irvine to Palm Springs, I would be doing the same whining about all the research that's required, all the decisions that need to be made, all the hoops we have to jump through, all the bureaucracies to navigate... and the intolerable heat.  I remind myself every day that we are now — almost — living in Sevilla; and this is a major dream come true.

So, we'll sit in the dark.