tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37086968718631052312012-02-17T04:58:27.085+01:00What I'm doin', thinkin' and eatin'.hhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00917223967298210611noreply@blogger.comBlogger4271100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3708696871863105231.post-92002451505721769682010-03-22T00:20:00.005+01:002010-03-22T00:34:59.034+01:00

I'm really really happy that the Olympics finally finished and (most) of TV Land went back to its regularly scheduled programming. Recent highlights include the dependably awesome "The Amazing Race" where they snarkily subtitled a recent comment, "Human Target" which has exceptionally well choreographed and inventive fight sequences and "Undercover Boss" which is just fucking genius. I'm

hhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00917223967298210611noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3708696871863105231.post-3131960076204656332010-03-14T01:04:00.003+01:002010-03-14T02:03:14.393+01:00

Glad that Star Trek won a makeup award since, as I mentioned, the eyebrows were phenomenal. Disappointed that they gave the honorary awards on a different night. Those are often the most sentimental (ie. cry-worthy) ones. Plus, Lauren Bacall is a woman who's never missed an opportunity for a zinger (have you read her autobiography?), so robbing the global audience of her wit wasn't smart.Why

hhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00917223967298210611noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3708696871863105231.post-47351678481961637102010-03-14T00:52:00.004+01:002010-03-14T00:57:55.379+01:00

Finally watching the first of three parts of Sunday's Oscars. I've already cried once (John Hughes -- you defined my childhood!) and laughed out loud four times (I like olde tyme jokes if they're well done). I still don't like Ben Stiller. At all. Ever.

hhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00917223967298210611noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3708696871863105231.post-52973135136614745872010-03-10T12:05:00.004+01:002010-03-10T12:12:27.644+01:00

The snow is long gone (there were up to 8 inches in some parts of town!), but I'm still basking in the memory, now featuring a lizard.

hhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00917223967298210611noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3708696871863105231.post-50923788648946692342010-03-10T01:18:00.007+01:002010-03-10T02:03:22.436+01:00

Life is simultaneously wonderful and headed toward certain misery. List time!Things that are awesome1. My new apartment which I moved into last week.2. Having my own bathroom which is always clean and fully stocked.3. There was HISTORIC SNOWFALL on Monday in Barcelona.4. I super-fucking-LOVE snow and have missed it desperately for years.5. All my afternoon classes were canceled due to

hhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00917223967298210611noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3708696871863105231.post-74100659940959007822010-02-24T12:26:00.000+01:002010-02-24T12:27:46.765+01:00

Everything is a lie. I hate having this kind of thing confirmed.

hhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00917223967298210611noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3708696871863105231.post-53928730280545143432010-02-15T12:09:00.001+01:002010-02-15T12:11:32.668+01:00

Dear Diary: I was recently reminded of an event years ago, when I was living in New York City. We were visiting Toronto, and were at a very nice French restaurant downtown. As we were seated, the maître d’, with a flourish, took my wife’s napkin and placed it on her lap. When repeating the effort for me, the flourish released a large cockroach hiding in the napkin! It crawled down my leg, hit the

hhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00917223967298210611noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3708696871863105231.post-54653849549384056492010-01-21T22:37:00.000+01:002010-01-21T22:38:29.099+01:00

Here.

hhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00917223967298210611noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3708696871863105231.post-2815226248494599822010-01-18T10:40:00.001+01:002010-01-18T10:40:00.886+01:00

Something I realized too late about my old job was that it left me feeling like I hadn't done anything at the end of the day. Working in a creative capacity is always hard, but at least musicians have songs and writers have books, etc. I always kinda wanted to be like this, but the reality of not having a tangible product wore on me.Teaching, while nothing I ever would have thought I'd like,

hhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00917223967298210611noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3708696871863105231.post-66742038331588780102010-01-09T18:38:00.005+01:002010-01-10T21:59:28.427+01:00

Leap Year is rated PG (Parental guidance suggested). No sex. No jokes. No serious swearing. No violence. Nothing. From the NYT review."He's got a mean way of being happy." Al Swearengen (Ian McShane) in "Deadwood," all of which I watched again over Xmas break.An amusing (and accurate) jibe at James Cameron's crappy writing. I honestly believe that my own feces tells a better story.“SATAN HAS

hhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00917223967298210611noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3708696871863105231.post-56123500785125171272010-01-08T00:43:00.002+01:002010-01-08T00:47:37.712+01:00

1. I don't need to get in touch with anyone who doesn't know how to get in touch with me. Quoth the NYT, "You're not friends with any of these people anymore for a reason, right?"2. I'm really not interested in having any information about me on the interwebs and Facebook doesn't give a shit.

hhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00917223967298210611noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3708696871863105231.post-50773892825144644822010-01-06T18:30:00.006+01:002010-01-10T22:00:13.673+01:00

Here are my most-played songs of 2009:I'm Not Gonna Teach Your Boyfriend How To Dance -- Black KidsKing of the Rodeo -- Kings of Leon, covered by The Bamboos, featuring Megan WashingtonSlow Show -- The NationalKing of the Rodeo -- Kings of LeonThe Fear -- Lily AllenDoot Doot -- FreurSex on Fire -- Kings of LeonJe veux te voir -- YelleRight As Rain -- AdeleSingle Ladies -- BeyoncéKnocked Up --

hhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00917223967298210611noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3708696871863105231.post-72663476639398770042010-01-05T19:04:00.001+01:002010-01-06T19:44:22.179+01:00

Things that have happened recently which you may or may not believe: 1. Found not one but two huge shits on my backpack. Oddly, this particular bag has a history of being shat upon. I'm not sure what pigeons have against L.L. Bean, but there's something going on. 2. Was introduced to someone by another person who's notorious for mispronouncing names. When I asked the guy if his name was

hhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00917223967298210611noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3708696871863105231.post-648632738698236852010-01-03T00:34:00.002+01:002010-01-03T00:38:56.980+01:00

David Simon, the creator of "The Wire," had an immensely interesting conversation with Bill Moyers a while back about the actual state of the union. I found his comments about how the drug world exists to create a capitalist system for the American underclass of particular interest since I'd never really thought about the real reasons for their total lack of opportunities.

hhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00917223967298210611noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3708696871863105231.post-77001768074455062142010-01-02T13:28:00.004+01:002010-01-02T14:00:27.756+01:00

Of the 30 books I read this year, here're some highlights:The Time Traveler's Wife (Audrey Niffenegger) was recommended to me by a friend a couple years ago, but I forgot about it until I read The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo (Stieg Larsson) and needed to cleanse myself. The first of these two made me cry and cry; the second made me want to boil my skin off.The Historian (Elizabeth Kostova) is a

hhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00917223967298210611noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3708696871863105231.post-73333298682896959982010-01-02T13:16:00.001+01:002010-01-02T13:15:44.658+01:00

18,087.35: € earned, about 50% more than the average Spaniard ($25, 878.30)2,000: Euros I've got sitting in an ING account accumulating interest1,134: days since I smoked (and it never stops being a bummer)1,004.75: hours worked180: movies seen114.25: most hours worked in a month (November)47: students I learned English to30: books read22: percent of income I spent on rent11: least hours worked

hhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00917223967298210611noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3708696871863105231.post-9985334097572251882009-12-22T21:35:00.002+01:002009-12-22T21:41:48.564+01:00

Before this weekend, I hadn't been to the theater in approximately 1,000 years (September) due to my crazy work schedule, but I made a point of seeing Avatar. After the movie, I finished listening to my BBC Film Programme podcast where the host had a lengthy interview with James Cameron. Once the interview was over and she was back, live, in the studio she said the following:It's undeniably

hhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00917223967298210611noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3708696871863105231.post-69522169564741877372009-12-18T20:22:00.002+01:002009-12-18T20:24:56.941+01:00

Second worst one this decade, after 2004's shit-fest. The worst part is that it started out so promising and is going to end with me still fuming and having to work in the morning.

hhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00917223967298210611noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3708696871863105231.post-45375307207491602972009-12-17T01:20:00.003+01:002009-12-17T01:27:49.926+01:00

There are finally going to be more Shake Shacks in the world, maybe even on my side: “Americans go abroad hankering for a burger,” Mr. Knapp said, and why a global premium-burger strategy could be well received.I would receive the news of a 'Shack near me with a pledge to eat my own weight in burgers in a week. I hanker for the damn things on a regular basis.

hhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00917223967298210611noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3708696871863105231.post-78916466890062092222009-12-07T03:00:00.001+01:002009-12-07T03:02:04.559+01:00

It's for charity! Why can't I have it?!!

hhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00917223967298210611noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3708696871863105231.post-78890758743608713302009-11-30T22:54:00.004+01:002009-11-30T23:04:01.213+01:00

A student recently saw the new Star Trek and was soooooo excited to tell me that they saw Iowa. I didn't have the heart to tell her that it was actually Bakersfield since we have neither cliffs nor chasms in Iowa. And the earth there is black, not red. But still. Go, birthplace of James T. Kirk!

hhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00917223967298210611noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3708696871863105231.post-64886325857119337772009-11-29T19:22:00.006+01:002009-11-30T22:59:05.216+01:00

I've been saying for years that the US should be four separate countries. If this were the case, there might be less general apathy since it would be easier to keep informed about a small geographical area; people may (or may not) become more invested in supporting the arts; more diverse pockets of culture and music scenes might develop, etc.A Russian professor called Igor Panerin had the same

hhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00917223967298210611noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3708696871863105231.post-39617293609194968882009-11-29T17:15:00.004+01:002009-11-29T17:22:06.430+01:00

It's been a while since I've had the time to read through the paper on any given day, but today it's raining and I made an executive decision not to leave the bed except for bathroom breaks and food. So far, this choice has really paid off since the NYT delivered a good line in the profile of the comedic Elliott clan:The show included a memorable moment when Bob and Ray, late middle-aged, in

hhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00917223967298210611noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3708696871863105231.post-48911505635677503322009-11-29T04:06:00.005+01:002009-11-29T04:12:36.465+01:00

The super-special edition of "Heathers," one of my all-time favorites. There are a ton of extras including a locker in Veronica-blue and a BIG FUN t-shirt. "Teenage Suicide (Don't Do It)" is possibly the only one of my favorite songs that I don't have on MP3.

hhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00917223967298210611noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3708696871863105231.post-12711350977311580512009-11-21T00:17:00.001+01:002009-11-21T00:17:31.807+01:00

hhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00917223967298210611noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3708696871863105231.post-45268364515158627422009-11-08T18:44:00.002+01:002009-11-08T18:46:41.527+01:00

Inconceivable!

hhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00917223967298210611noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3708696871863105231.post-26656240367332040232009-11-03T22:45:00.001+01:002009-11-03T22:46:48.422+01:00

Saw a woman on the bus today with a fake Gucci purse. You wanna know how I knew it was fake? 'Cause it said 'Jesus' in the Gucci font. Best thing all day.

hhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00917223967298210611noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3708696871863105231.post-78453115446636637722009-11-02T10:51:00.003+01:002009-11-02T10:54:24.353+01:00

I'm a big keyboard shortcuts girl and I finally found a way to access iTunes' search box without having to click the damn thing. It's this easy.1. Quit iTunes2. Open Terminal, paste this: defaults write com.apple.iTunes \NSUserKeyEquivalents -dict-add "Target Search Field" "@F"3. Hit enter.Now, ⌘ + F will take you right to the search box. Yay!

hhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00917223967298210611noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3708696871863105231.post-78690651494257961582009-10-27T22:17:00.003+01:002009-10-27T22:20:25.185+01:00

Also, further proof that the French are fucking awesome.

hhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00917223967298210611noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3708696871863105231.post-7095694070854420112009-10-25T17:12:00.005+01:002009-10-26T12:44:26.039+01:00

I can't remember the last time shit was so crazy in my life. I have almost 30 hours of class a week, which, when you add in travel time, means I'm working about eight hours some days which is a lot (for me). I'm doing this because I need to save up lots of money for my move (I'm looking at spring of next year) and also because I don't like to be at home because the China Pig gets filthier every

hhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00917223967298210611noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3708696871863105231.post-56637576532847424542009-10-20T23:26:00.003+02:002009-10-20T23:29:28.004+02:00

I've discovered the secret: don't do puzzles after 2AM. Turns out that I can finish it faster and without mistakes if I'm totally conscious. Who knew?In other news, I'm feeling well enough that I'm going to the gym tomorrow. ---------------- Now playing:Ian Pooley - Coraçao Tambor (Intro) via FoxyTunes

hhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00917223967298210611noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3708696871863105231.post-71900342718518276572009-10-20T11:11:00.004+02:002009-10-20T11:21:58.768+02:00

Yesterday, despite taking a Day-Quil, a Benadryl, an anti-histamine and my regular allergy pills, I was still leaking all over the place so I went to a pharmacy to buy more drugs. The woman there recoiled just a tiny bit when I took my sunglasses off and told her that I was concerned about the swelling in my right eye. She said that if it's constantly watering for several days, it may get

hhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00917223967298210611noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3708696871863105231.post-27724466698299142092009-10-18T19:54:00.005+02:002009-10-18T20:06:17.347+02:00

I woke up today feeling achy all over yet happy that I was able to sleep at all. When I saw myself in the bathroom mirror, it looked like half of my face had been crying all night because the right eye was puffed almost shut and my right nostril was redder than the left, but the other side was perfectly normal, which is to say that I looked pretty sweet.I've decided to call this particular

hhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00917223967298210611noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3708696871863105231.post-26579958933944372742009-10-17T21:58:00.005+02:002009-10-18T01:47:08.395+02:00

Here I am, doped to the gills, and the right side of my face is a faucet. See, it all started innocently enough about four days ago when the weather changed to a more month-appropriate kind. Of course, this means that I was due to get sick. Which I have. On a Saturday. This particular ailment's symptoms are pretty icky. My right eye waters constantly, like, every time I blink, two big

hhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00917223967298210611noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3708696871863105231.post-74874048850544352062009-10-12T20:19:00.006+02:002009-10-12T20:46:34.916+02:00

So, shit's been nuts since the beginning of the month and there doesn't seem to be an end in sight. I've got 24 students during the week and my Saturday group which started this past weekend. I've got actual class from 1:30 to at least 9 four nights a week -- adding in the half hour on either side for commuting time and I'm looking at the longest days I've worked since I left the States. There

hhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00917223967298210611noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3708696871863105231.post-29382979657574300172009-10-04T00:26:00.005+02:002009-10-04T00:34:18.767+02:00

On a purely academic level, I understand why I know all the songs played on the classic rock station where I grew up, but on a realistic one, I can't believe that they haven't changed the playlists in 20 years. Then again, it's awesome to have one station that plays every. damn. song. I can sing along to.

hhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00917223967298210611noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3708696871863105231.post-22457537749496908332009-10-03T12:56:00.001+02:002009-10-03T13:31:52.492+02:00

Why was this censored in-house?Inside CBS’s headquarters, where employees can usually watch the Letterman show live on closed circuit, the extortion segment was not transmitted.

hhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00917223967298210611noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3708696871863105231.post-80644736691811067892009-09-30T23:18:00.004+02:002009-09-30T23:26:23.923+02:00

If the thought "my tummy hurts" crosses your mind, take antacids right away, even if you just brushed your teeth and got into bed. Brushing again will be significantly easier than being up until 5 in the god damn morning with aforementioned ache.Christ, you'd never know that EVERY TIME I go back to the States I buy the biggest damn generic bottle of berry-flavored antacids for precisely this

hhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00917223967298210611noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3708696871863105231.post-10163666852216919792009-09-28T23:41:00.002+02:002009-09-28T23:48:32.436+02:00

This whole Polanski thing is pretty disgusting in that it makes the US look terribly prudish and puritanical. The only non-negative thing to come out of it that I can see is this statement made by a former French culture minister:“Sometimes the American justice system shows an excess of formalism like an infernal machine that advances inexorably and blindly. It sometimes lacks equity and

hhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00917223967298210611noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3708696871863105231.post-58385597629653885822009-09-27T22:32:00.009+02:002009-09-27T22:58:59.527+02:00

The Amazing Race's 15th season starts tonight, and I hope you've got your DVR-like device programmed. Not only do I think it's the best reality show on the planet, but the Emmy voters have agreed with me for SEVEN consecutive years, so you should really be watching it.I've been pleasantly surprised by the fall TV season so far. The new shows that have managed to capture my attention are: "

hhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00917223967298210611noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3708696871863105231.post-68421914869580163792009-09-27T22:11:00.005+02:002009-09-27T22:59:36.289+02:00

A study came out last week from the Instituto Nacional de Estadística reporting that the average Spanish salary was 20, 390.95€, but the most common salary is 14,503€. After taxes, the take home monthly salaries end up being 1,183€ and 960€ respectively. Women are making about 75% what men make for the same job.These numbers are pretty depressing, but it's important to keep in mind that the

hhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00917223967298210611noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3708696871863105231.post-49684952220559619862009-09-26T17:11:00.004+02:002009-09-26T17:14:55.575+02:00

This was the cassette of choice for making tapes in my household growing up. You can take a walk down Memorex lane at the home of all things analog on the webs.

hhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00917223967298210611noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3708696871863105231.post-60075425772036517402009-09-20T22:39:00.001+02:002009-09-20T22:40:00.595+02:00

A woman I know was recently telling me, in a horrified, hushed voice, that the son she sent to California for the summer was given the same sandwich every day by his host mom. I nodded and said, "Peanut butter and jelly, right?" and she looked even more horrified. For her, it was insulting (not to mention unhealthy) to feed a growing child the same thing every day. When I told her that many

hhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00917223967298210611noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3708696871863105231.post-77523296935617188792009-09-13T00:58:00.003+02:002009-09-13T01:09:14.812+02:00

Rodents of Unusual Size have been discovered in Papua New Guinea which is now at the top of my list of places I won't ever be going. (Link has a video -- shudder.)Quoth the nature reporter, "It's like a puppy!" The specimen they found was over 2 and half feet long and is temporarily being called the Bosavi wooly rat until an official name is given because it's so damn hairy. [Double shudder.]

hhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00917223967298210611noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3708696871863105231.post-9699051810130560052009-09-11T08:16:00.003+02:002009-09-11T08:20:53.664+02:00

I just woke up from sleeping almost 12 hours straight. (I did get up to pee at some point.) I was really tired and now I feel fucking awesome, like I could take over the whole world. Instead, I think I'll keep reading The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo that everyone here is going crazy over.

hhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00917223967298210611noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3708696871863105231.post-24954556539816758712009-09-06T18:42:00.006+02:002009-09-06T20:16:42.441+02:00

I'm surprised to see that I haven't before mentioned my theory that Nazis are the best villains ever ('cause they so are). The topic came to mind because I watched Valkyrie (2008; d: Bryan Singer, s: Tom Cruise) last night. I knew that it wasn't going to be good, but I love me a good Nazi story and anything from the guys behind The Usual Suspects is worth investigating.From a strict plot

hhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00917223967298210611noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3708696871863105231.post-31796774084808668842009-09-05T23:25:00.006+02:002009-09-06T20:18:56.246+02:00

Today was a good day.I woke up around 1pm and felt that I'd slept just the right amount. The China Pig wasn't home (out whoring it up as usual), so I was able to walk around in varying states of undress, which is awesome. Realized that the night had finally (finally!!! after months and months!!) been so cool that I'd slept under actual covers and not on top of them and that maybe that's why I

hhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00917223967298210611noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3708696871863105231.post-62062986797066901442009-09-05T21:18:00.004+02:002009-09-05T21:23:04.991+02:00

This is the pledge of those who never say die:I will never betray my Goon Dock friends,We'll stick together till the whole world ends,Through heaven and hell and nuclear war,Good friends like us will stick like tar.

hhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00917223967298210611noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3708696871863105231.post-54798979141665051502009-09-05T00:04:00.002+02:002009-09-05T00:07:32.267+02:00

It just occurred to me that a possible reason why some people have kids could qualify as jumping the shark in the sense that their relationship has nowhere else to go, so they create a new conflict/dynamic/central character to mix things up. This strikes me as simultaneously scary, true and depressing.

hhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00917223967298210611noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3708696871863105231.post-23682547225369977122009-09-02T18:14:00.010+02:002009-09-03T00:01:14.199+02:00

As I mentioned, I went to Germany last week to visit Mein Frau and her Mäuschen ("mouse," baby). In retrospect, it was my first vacation in a long time that wasn't family-oriented (read: stressful and annoying) and/or in a city (read: relaxing and energizing). The rule about real estate holds true in vacations: location, location, location. (Does that make anyone else think of this?*)I got

hhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00917223967298210611noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3708696871863105231.post-67972509077966104222009-09-02T18:03:00.004+02:002009-09-02T18:07:08.229+02:00

It's almost funnier that this catalog is actually called "kid butt."

hhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00917223967298210611noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3708696871863105231.post-85138577881389400372009-09-02T02:08:00.004+02:002009-09-02T18:03:22.149+02:00

I was actually kinda busy last month, hence the not so much with the posting. I was taking a French class in the mornings which meant waking up as early as 830 some days. Then, there was usually one hour of work directly followed by several hours of cooling off, a class at the gym and then another shower to cool off before going to bed. This seriously occupied most of my month. ( I'd

hhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00917223967298210611noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3708696871863105231.post-37890101493243133582009-08-17T00:28:00.004+02:002009-08-17T00:56:24.852+02:00

"The pain then is part of the happiness now."Debra Winger as Joy Davidman in Shadowlands

hhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00917223967298210611noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3708696871863105231.post-56648513463552198312009-08-16T20:16:00.008+02:002009-08-16T20:24:12.978+02:00

I actually gasped out loud when I read last week that John Hughes had died and can't believe it's taken me this long to stumble upon a link to Which John Hughes Character Are You? I am clearly his best character, behold: Oh yeah.

hhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00917223967298210611noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3708696871863105231.post-23135652881651793812009-08-11T17:00:00.002+02:002009-08-11T17:01:07.132+02:00

hhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00917223967298210611noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3708696871863105231.post-34846206100123331032009-08-09T22:36:00.002+02:002009-08-09T22:39:53.366+02:00

From an NYT story about the 2009 summer box office and how all the blockbusters have been kids' movies:Auteur is French for unemployed.BWAH!----------------Now playing: Benoît Charest - Belleville Rendez-Vous (VF)via FoxyTunes

hhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00917223967298210611noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3708696871863105231.post-79360996823157568842009-08-09T22:20:00.002+02:002009-08-09T22:21:47.415+02:00

Hebdomadaire is the most insane word I've come across so far. That long ass thing means 'weekly.'

hhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00917223967298210611noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3708696871863105231.post-32621354656974084172009-08-09T20:31:00.003+02:002009-08-09T20:35:56.262+02:00

I eat yogurt with muesli for breakfast every day alongside my glass of milk mixed with juice.In keeping with my roots, I also have PB&J, which is a totally bizarre combo here.And I serve it on a tray since that's how we roll here.

hhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00917223967298210611noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3708696871863105231.post-3276470482577397162009-08-09T04:49:00.001+02:002009-08-09T04:56:47.057+02:00

When you cut the stem out of a strawberry, you hull it. This reminds me of the one time I out-knowledged my sister. My mother offered us each half an avocado and I yelled, "I want the pitted side!" and my sister yelled, "I want the one without the pit!" A minor argument ensued and we were forced to have the dictionary arbitrate, so we consulted the dog-eared copy we kept in the kitchen for

hhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00917223967298210611noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3708696871863105231.post-14945852198630663212009-08-08T22:15:00.006+02:002009-08-09T00:06:00.831+02:00

You're 32 years old, and you've achieved nothing. Jesus Christ was dead and alive again by 33. You better get crackin'.--- George Clooney as Jim Byrd in Confessions of a Dangerous MindOh, SNAP! I just got served!

hhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00917223967298210611noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3708696871863105231.post-71852668042182797322009-08-07T14:42:00.003+02:002009-08-07T14:43:44.270+02:00

... when you see a guy wearing this on the street. I actually said "ha!" when I saw him.

hhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00917223967298210611noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3708696871863105231.post-39071417278978774652009-08-05T09:58:00.002+02:002009-08-05T10:00:27.665+02:00

hhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00917223967298210611noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3708696871863105231.post-88707667633132862862009-08-04T23:59:00.001+02:002009-08-05T00:00:55.817+02:00

Wish I had some or a chance to eat some.

hhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00917223967298210611noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3708696871863105231.post-27918123204232704842009-08-04T21:10:00.004+02:002009-08-04T21:15:21.271+02:00

After three months of trying to find an open intermediate intensive French class, I finally got myself signed up for one. I start tomorrow which means that my plan to go somewhere, anywhere that's not as hot as here is back on. Hopefully, someday soon that good thing that'll be arriving someplace is my stuff to a new locale.

hhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00917223967298210611noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3708696871863105231.post-10729444679255251832009-08-03T23:45:00.007+02:002009-08-04T01:57:11.240+02:00

It's been a while since I've said any overtly positive things (though most of my thoughts are now happy ones), so I thought I'd take this moment to give my seal of approval to some stuff. Movies Duplicity -- Clive Owen, Julia Roberts. My favorite genre is "heist" followed closely by "spy," so this movie really touched me in two good spots. I recently re-watched it and it held up exceedingly

hhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00917223967298210611noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3708696871863105231.post-17276372913293846052009-08-01T20:33:00.007+02:002009-08-02T21:13:56.956+02:00

It was a hard day for me when I found out recently that Gwyneth Paltrow and I had something in common. The blogosphere had a hissy fit over a comment she made that was construed as America-bashing (which it wasn't) and elitist (which it was just a little bit). The point is that people here in the Med do live a little better because they make time to enjoy things besides work (which generally

hhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00917223967298210611noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3708696871863105231.post-70543103634278012942009-08-01T13:54:00.004+02:002009-08-01T13:59:28.790+02:00

Democracy is the theory that the common people know what they want and deserve to get it good and hard. --- H. L. Mencken

hhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00917223967298210611noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3708696871863105231.post-45254826348924563402009-07-31T22:19:00.003+02:002009-07-31T22:21:29.863+02:00

"The H, cleaner every day!" (It's actually referring to Hospitalet, the town next to BCN, but whatever.)

hhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00917223967298210611noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3708696871863105231.post-78288003452668806632009-07-30T22:44:00.005+02:002009-07-30T23:06:56.677+02:00

Woke up early-ish this morning and was having breakfast when the doorbell started ringing incessantly. When I answered it, the Dutch guy who lives downstairs burst into the apartment yelling, "¡Incendio! ¡Incendio! ¿Donde esta?" which confused me briefly. (An "incendio" is what we call forest fires here, which is to say that it implies a very hot out-of-control fire; something that's

hhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00917223967298210611noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3708696871863105231.post-45984259091640742582009-07-29T23:50:00.001+02:002009-07-29T23:51:31.063+02:00

French pop musique is not only awesome; it's also amusing.

hhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00917223967298210611noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3708696871863105231.post-12978394450701977942009-07-29T12:45:00.006+02:002009-07-29T12:55:47.619+02:00

I fell off the wagon a couple weeks ago and was eating only Mexican-type food and Pringles. It took me way too long to figure out that I was craving salty food because I was sweating so much, but since then I've been trying to eat well again.Came up with a new summer pasta salad that I'm calling Kitchen Sink Pasta since it's got just about everything in it and whatever's lying around can be

hhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00917223967298210611noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3708696871863105231.post-89549575104019752072009-07-28T22:45:00.000+02:002009-07-28T22:46:25.596+02:00

hhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00917223967298210611noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3708696871863105231.post-74627847626667279402009-07-27T23:19:00.007+02:002009-07-28T22:48:12.262+02:00

It may have seemed like I was suggesting that the Spaniards aren't racist in my post about Obama's book, so I just wanted to say that they are, actually, insanely racist -- just not towards me since I'm one of them. This suggests to me that racism is in the eye of the beholder or the beheld, which is something I'm not sure I thought of before. Using only snack foods, I'm going to illustrate

hhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00917223967298210611noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3708696871863105231.post-57177317534300466812009-07-25T01:12:00.004+02:002009-07-26T13:45:00.644+02:00

It just took me way too long to track down the screen saver that makes me feel a little better in the summer. Fliqlo will have to wait until the weather gets bearable again. Until then, I'm thinking cool thoughts...

hhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00917223967298210611noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3708696871863105231.post-56310593182547928732009-07-24T17:10:00.003+02:002009-08-09T04:42:12.064+02:00

Woke up early today (7:30!!) as I have every day this week. Played water balloon games for almost three hours with two of my kids (students) in the hot sun and actually had a fantastic time. Also got paid 380€ for playing with said kids for three hours every day this week which was doubly sweet.Took advantage of being awake, dressed and out of the house to do some errands I hadn't been able to

hhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00917223967298210611noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3708696871863105231.post-28352430661444648622009-07-22T08:37:00.002+02:002009-07-22T08:39:21.825+02:00

These people are hopeless and helpless.

hhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00917223967298210611noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3708696871863105231.post-71856728556314239472009-07-21T16:31:00.002+02:002009-07-21T16:32:02.810+02:00

hhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00917223967298210611noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3708696871863105231.post-18894271967463005862009-07-21T08:28:00.001+02:002009-07-21T08:30:15.125+02:00

hhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00917223967298210611noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3708696871863105231.post-5903489862957198972009-07-21T08:27:00.001+02:002009-07-21T08:28:53.736+02:00

You block access to three-fourths of a crowded bus and are totally oblivious.

hhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00917223967298210611noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3708696871863105231.post-90593531059077534852009-07-20T22:26:00.002+02:002009-07-20T22:27:26.237+02:00

[Link]

hhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00917223967298210611noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3708696871863105231.post-39923898773234424552009-07-19T03:49:00.001+02:002009-07-19T03:50:50.095+02:00

hhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00917223967298210611noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3708696871863105231.post-27267725597526100362009-07-18T21:05:00.005+02:002009-07-18T21:23:57.648+02:00

I, on the other hand, am going out to dinner with nine people who don't have kids.

hhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00917223967298210611noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3708696871863105231.post-70303084951276232672009-07-15T22:31:00.004+02:002009-07-22T08:39:56.263+02:00

An alternate alphabet that I, sadly, won't be able to use as a teaching tool. Transformers voguing is cracking me up.

hhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00917223967298210611noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3708696871863105231.post-48061035601947863832009-07-15T22:12:00.004+02:002009-07-15T22:17:28.603+02:00

"Sesame Street" turns 40 this year and some people made an awesome interactive drawing of a bunch of Muppets. Mousing over each one, I recognized many of them and once I saw their names had little "duh" moments to myself, but there's only one that I'm a little sad I forgot about -- Mumford, whose catchphrase was "A-la-peanut-butter-sandwiches!" I used to love that guy.

hhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00917223967298210611noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3708696871863105231.post-36562883464079167582009-07-15T11:49:00.002+02:002009-07-15T11:54:07.628+02:00

Without it, I never would have seen the Danish Darth Vader lamb chops and my life is definitely better for having seen them.

hhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00917223967298210611noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3708696871863105231.post-9938753042281553162009-07-14T11:57:00.002+02:002009-07-14T11:57:57.442+02:00

hhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00917223967298210611noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3708696871863105231.post-90083021946239865992009-07-13T16:44:00.002+02:002009-07-13T16:49:42.579+02:00

I don't know why it's taken me so long to share my favorite podcast, but I can't let another day pass. It's called Filmspotting and, as you may have guessed, it's two guys talking about movies. On this week's show, the thing that stuck with me most was an offhand comment by one of the hosts saying that they should design a new shirt that says, "Show me on the doll where the movie touched you"

hhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00917223967298210611noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3708696871863105231.post-28844053296284732482009-07-11T13:08:00.002+02:002009-07-11T13:13:21.614+02:00

"Sólo quiero bailar" (I only want to dance) by Zenttric. They're like a Basque Vampire Weekend.

hhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00917223967298210611noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3708696871863105231.post-46610717067031303332009-07-09T00:54:00.002+02:002009-07-09T01:09:40.413+02:00

Dear You,My life looks like this most days. Some books (a little fiction, a little history, a little French exercises), a towel I inherited from Amy, Coke Zero, fruit (cherries in the bowl), some sifón (that's what we call seltzer in a country that doesn't like Jews), an iPod with a bunch of podcasts and some books-on-tape, a roof deck just for me and a whole lotta sun.Enjoy the view, Sucker.

hhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00917223967298210611noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3708696871863105231.post-33096005301192376872009-07-08T10:24:00.001+02:002009-07-08T10:25:39.073+02:00

hhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00917223967298210611noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3708696871863105231.post-15634367116294405162009-07-07T20:27:00.002+02:002009-07-07T20:29:22.696+02:00

I'm still sorting through my iTunes and came upon this song by Elbow today which I felt I should share. It's really good LOUD.

hhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00917223967298210611noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3708696871863105231.post-84069693032778684232009-07-07T11:42:00.002+02:002009-07-07T11:43:04.683+02:00

hhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00917223967298210611noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3708696871863105231.post-86208363579348004222009-07-04T12:16:00.003+02:002009-07-07T12:39:53.919+02:00

"I held it as self-evident that being created equal was just Step 1 in the process of proving myself somewhat superior." The Way We Live Now"Its sensibility, in fact, borders on the illiterate, which must be a first for a dictionary." The Medium

hhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00917223967298210611noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3708696871863105231.post-31392487249717206132009-07-04T12:05:00.000+02:002009-07-04T12:05:05.546+02:00

"We're here to preserve democracy, not to practice it." Gene Hackman as Capt. Frank Ramsey in Crimson Tide I've mentioned before how Tony is my favorite Scott, but I forgot to include how well cast his movies tend to be. Watching them with the benefit of hindsight, you can see what a good eye he has for talent.In this movie alone, there's Viggo Mortensen, (a thin-ish) James Gandolfini (

hhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00917223967298210611noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3708696871863105231.post-13070690616609317582009-07-03T17:01:00.003+02:002009-07-03T17:16:53.386+02:00

One has not only an ability to perceive the world but an ability to alter one's perception of it; more simply, one can change things by the manner in which one looks at them. -- Tom RobbinsI was talking to my BFF the other day about how she's ready to pop a baby out of her body and how we've known each other for over a

hhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00917223967298210611noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3708696871863105231.post-83934526221783304182009-07-03T10:54:00.006+02:002009-07-07T20:24:43.900+02:00

How hot? 1. I'm pretty sure that when I got out of the shower the other day, water rose off my body in the form of steam. 2. I put my hair up in two side buns with hairdresser-type clips and when I removed them a few hours later, my hair didn't move. It had set in that style, much as if I had been sitting under a hair lamp. 3. I now carry a gym towel in my bad to wipe myself off before I go

hhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00917223967298210611noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3708696871863105231.post-8554301275880953842009-07-03T10:47:00.002+02:002009-07-03T10:51:15.771+02:00

...that this is the same person. While I know that it is, I still doubt it a little. It seems like his face has changed in some kind of structural way, like his nose is totally different or something.

hhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00917223967298210611noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3708696871863105231.post-189267512635772052009-07-02T13:59:00.001+02:002009-07-03T10:47:39.091+02:00

This is a used tampon, barely wrapped in toilet paper. The trash can (which I bought) is just out of frame in the lower right hand corner. This is just beyond unacceptable.

hhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00917223967298210611noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3708696871863105231.post-13564468907806974382009-07-02T12:00:00.002+02:002009-07-02T12:03:32.652+02:00

"The first thing we thought, being from New York, is that there’s going to be so much dirt under there."This is funnier to me on its own. It just seems like one of those things that you could say in almost any situation and it could apply.

hhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00917223967298210611noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3708696871863105231.post-58375393120390008562009-07-01T20:49:00.003+02:002009-07-01T22:59:25.380+02:00

hhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00917223967298210611noreply@blogger.com0