Sparkly Lights and a Cat

I pity you, poor readers. There's another month to go on this holiday season and I've got so much more to share with you of Sevilla's decorations, festivities, and observances. If you hate the holidays, then just pretend I'm sharing lots of sparkly lights and interesting/unusual people and traditions. That's all I really mean to be sharing. You won't get any "good cheer," "good tidings," "peace on earth," or "good will towards men," from me. You should all have all that all year long. And sparkly lights, too, if they make you happy.

PLAZA DE LA ENCARNACIÓN, UNDER THE METROPOL PARASOL.

Anyway, I'll keep the holiday part of this post brief. Check out the brand new "tree of lights" set up beneath the Metropol Parasol at the Plaza de La Encarnación. The Metropol Parasol had only been open less than a year when Christmas 2011 came around. This year, there are rides for kids, the spectacular "tree," lots of candy, a charming holiday market with food and handiwork, and (as seen at the lower right in the below photo) artesan CHOCOLATE!

A FEW MINUTES FROM HOME AND A WORLD AWAY.

The Three Faces of Moose
Our cat Dudo gets a lot more air time than his brother Moose. I'd say it's because Dudo gets into more trouble, but that's not necessarily true. Moose plays innocent, but we regularly catch him at something he's not supposed to be doing. He stops the minute he realizes he's been caught out and then acts as if he's as surprised as we are. Moi? Dudo's reaction is more like, "You can't be serious!" One thing's for certain, Dudo is busier and gets distracted much more easily than Moose. So, this year, no Christmas trees and no sparkly lights at our house. They wouldn't survive an hour with "the boys." An example of the difference between Dudo and Moose can be witnessed in the series of Moose photos below. Dudo would have ended up right in my face tugging on the camera strap or licking my hand (until something else caught his attention). Not Moose.

"AW, MAN.  DID I JUST HEAR THAT DAMN CAMERA? AGAIN?" 

"I'M TRYING TO SLEEP HERE.."

"OH, NO WORRIES. I'M GOOD."
NOW, WHY DID I SUDDENLY MAKE MOOSE SOUND LIKE A SURFER DUDE?