One of those tests I found tonight as I was catching up on cleaning out emails, sending Christmas cards, emails, etc.
You Are An ENFP
The Inspirer
You love being around people, and you are deeply committed to your friends.
You are also unconventional, irreverent, and unimpressed by authority and rules.
Incredibly perceptive, you can usually sense if someone has hidden motives.
You use lots of colorful language and expressions. You're quite the storyteller!
In love, you are quite the charmer. And you are definitely willing to risk your heart.
You often don't follow through with your flirting or professed feelings. And you do break a lot of hearts.
At work, you are driven but not a workaholic. You just always seem to enjoy what you do.
You would make an excellent entrepreneur, politician, or journalist.
How you see yourself: compassionate, unselfish, and understanding
When other people don't get you, they see you as: gushy, emotional, and unfocused
All I can say is 'Uh, duh!'
What do you think? Take the quiz!
http://www.blogthings.com/whatsyourpersonalitytypequiz/
Thursday, December 20, 2007
Tuesday, December 18, 2007
Uh, 30....
It came and went and I'm happy to report it was pretty low-key. Thanks to everyone for the birthday wishes!
I had a 4-day weekend off before the big day and I took it as more of an R&R weekend to catch up and watch movies and just relax. Things have been chaotic to say the least these past few months (or it feels like years)... Accepting the job at the News Tribune, trying to find a place to live, moving halfway across the country again from Dallas (2 years after the move from Detroit), living in a hotel for 30 days while I try to get settled into the new job, getting access to my future townhouse (and living here rent-free until I can close), going to Spain, unpacking, and then turning 30 (yikes, I'm 30 - shhesseh!) ....
(Long siggggghhhhh)... I'm exhausted just thinking about it all.
Work was surprisingly easy that first night back (on my birthday) and I got into a baking mood the night before so I made my own (chuckle!) birthday treats -- lemon bars, banana bread and dinner (lasagna-style ziti) for the entire desk and well, newsroom -- you all know how I cook....
I went out with a few co-workers for drinks later.
Saturday I even got my flirt on at this cool bar a few of us went to -- with a younger guy (whohoo! and a cutie to boot!) He's a friend of a friend and it was fun being the cougar... and I even got the requisite, "So want to come to my place?" offer, which I demurely declined.
While it was fun to flirt, I'm just not into booty calls or even looking for the 'next' person right now... I still need time to heal from this last relationship I keep realizing. Just when I think I am over him, BAM! something comes up to put Mr. Big back in the spotlight....I found out I was not vested in the Belo 401k match as I thought I was. I was 11 months short of being able to walk away with the company match. So a chunk o' free money just flushed down the toilet....I could take my shoe and beat first Mr. Big -- and then myself -- with it for convincing me to leave there this fall...sigh....
The getting-better news is that I may FINALLY close on my townhouse in January (Jan. 15 to be exact.) It looks like the delay may work in my favor (better mortgage rates) and the builder has agreed to chip in an extra $1,500 in closing costs to offset the delay and the fact that I can't get the tax break for 2007 and have been delayed already three times in the closing.
And someone moved into the large unit across from me and someone is moving in next door to me this week -- so I feel lots better about staying now that there are other tenants.
The so-so news is that the weather does really suck this time of year. The rain has not stopped (although it was delayed a bit longer in starting the rainy season this year so I will count that as a blessing....) and I'll take rain over snow any day. But the snow up in the mountains is really coming down, so I'm getting back on the skies after a small hiatus and may even take up snowshoeing and snowboarding.
Snowshoeing sounds fun and something I've never done -- and a local friend who is outdoorsy want me to go with him to try it. Did you hear about the missing guys near Rainier who got swept up in an avalanche while snowshoeing in the past couple of days? Yikes! We'll make sure we have the necessary equipment if we do go.
Some more things are unpacked. The bathroom that had a water leak is almost put back together. The drywaller came and made a mess but that's done. I did get to meet one of the builders' head honchos. He came to inspect the work the drywaller did and to see what kind of damage he created in the meantime. He was happy to see it was a lot less than what he thought -- and he was the one who suggested the cleaning after noticing all the sloppiness the drywaller left behind including a large handprint on the top of the door (since he was oh, 6-4 and could see that high!) Painters come (gulp!) early Friday morning, plumber comes Saturday morning. I SHOULD have a working bathroom for the holidays -- although it doesn't really matter since I'm working the next 7 days straight (yuck! newbie with no family in the area gets the stinky shifts! and she agrees to take one for the team to get on the good side of the desk!)
And I have more blinds installed -- so I don't feel as exposed walking around the place -- LOL! (I have a bad habit of forgetting to wear clothes as I get ready and then walking by the open windows...)
I now have the garbage and recycling being picked up (hopefully again this week! fingers crossed!) and the access to my garage has returned from the street side after two weeks of construction. That was comedy hi-jinks for two weeks as I either had to physically remove barricades -- or tell the construction guys to move them -- as I repeatedly had to tell them someone DOES live here!
And did I mention, I FINALLY have a garage door opener???
The cats are finally adjusting and I think they like having all this space to run around in after two years of a 615 sq. ft loft in Dallas. Gray even 'discovered' this ledge he can run back and forth on near the windows on the second floor. Basil just likes when I'm home and she can 'share' this small black chair with me while I watch TV.
I had a 4-day weekend off before the big day and I took it as more of an R&R weekend to catch up and watch movies and just relax. Things have been chaotic to say the least these past few months (or it feels like years)... Accepting the job at the News Tribune, trying to find a place to live, moving halfway across the country again from Dallas (2 years after the move from Detroit), living in a hotel for 30 days while I try to get settled into the new job, getting access to my future townhouse (and living here rent-free until I can close), going to Spain, unpacking, and then turning 30 (yikes, I'm 30 - shhesseh!) ....
(Long siggggghhhhh)... I'm exhausted just thinking about it all.
Work was surprisingly easy that first night back (on my birthday) and I got into a baking mood the night before so I made my own (chuckle!) birthday treats -- lemon bars, banana bread and dinner (lasagna-style ziti) for the entire desk and well, newsroom -- you all know how I cook....
I went out with a few co-workers for drinks later.
Saturday I even got my flirt on at this cool bar a few of us went to -- with a younger guy (whohoo! and a cutie to boot!) He's a friend of a friend and it was fun being the cougar... and I even got the requisite, "So want to come to my place?" offer, which I demurely declined.
While it was fun to flirt, I'm just not into booty calls or even looking for the 'next' person right now... I still need time to heal from this last relationship I keep realizing. Just when I think I am over him, BAM! something comes up to put Mr. Big back in the spotlight....I found out I was not vested in the Belo 401k match as I thought I was. I was 11 months short of being able to walk away with the company match. So a chunk o' free money just flushed down the toilet....I could take my shoe and beat first Mr. Big -- and then myself -- with it for convincing me to leave there this fall...sigh....
The getting-better news is that I may FINALLY close on my townhouse in January (Jan. 15 to be exact.) It looks like the delay may work in my favor (better mortgage rates) and the builder has agreed to chip in an extra $1,500 in closing costs to offset the delay and the fact that I can't get the tax break for 2007 and have been delayed already three times in the closing.
And someone moved into the large unit across from me and someone is moving in next door to me this week -- so I feel lots better about staying now that there are other tenants.
The so-so news is that the weather does really suck this time of year. The rain has not stopped (although it was delayed a bit longer in starting the rainy season this year so I will count that as a blessing....) and I'll take rain over snow any day. But the snow up in the mountains is really coming down, so I'm getting back on the skies after a small hiatus and may even take up snowshoeing and snowboarding.
Snowshoeing sounds fun and something I've never done -- and a local friend who is outdoorsy want me to go with him to try it. Did you hear about the missing guys near Rainier who got swept up in an avalanche while snowshoeing in the past couple of days? Yikes! We'll make sure we have the necessary equipment if we do go.
Some more things are unpacked. The bathroom that had a water leak is almost put back together. The drywaller came and made a mess but that's done. I did get to meet one of the builders' head honchos. He came to inspect the work the drywaller did and to see what kind of damage he created in the meantime. He was happy to see it was a lot less than what he thought -- and he was the one who suggested the cleaning after noticing all the sloppiness the drywaller left behind including a large handprint on the top of the door (since he was oh, 6-4 and could see that high!) Painters come (gulp!) early Friday morning, plumber comes Saturday morning. I SHOULD have a working bathroom for the holidays -- although it doesn't really matter since I'm working the next 7 days straight (yuck! newbie with no family in the area gets the stinky shifts! and she agrees to take one for the team to get on the good side of the desk!)
And I have more blinds installed -- so I don't feel as exposed walking around the place -- LOL! (I have a bad habit of forgetting to wear clothes as I get ready and then walking by the open windows...)
I now have the garbage and recycling being picked up (hopefully again this week! fingers crossed!) and the access to my garage has returned from the street side after two weeks of construction. That was comedy hi-jinks for two weeks as I either had to physically remove barricades -- or tell the construction guys to move them -- as I repeatedly had to tell them someone DOES live here!
And did I mention, I FINALLY have a garage door opener???
The cats are finally adjusting and I think they like having all this space to run around in after two years of a 615 sq. ft loft in Dallas. Gray even 'discovered' this ledge he can run back and forth on near the windows on the second floor. Basil just likes when I'm home and she can 'share' this small black chair with me while I watch TV.
Saturday, December 1, 2007
A rocky Tacoma start
Sometimes I feel as if my life is a sweater... comfortable, snug, fits me well... But then there is a snag in that sweater...and it starts to unravel. Not quickly at first ... but then somewhere between that first initial snag... there is this giant, unsightly hole in the underarm.
Well, that's how I feel right now. Things have not been the smoothest in my move to Tacoma... I decided to buy a townhouse after my relationship with Mr. Big (the unnamed boyfriend who kindly dumped me when the offer came in from the News Tribune) and I found this amazing place that is an area of town that is being redeveloped -- urban, close to downtown and lots of potential. The townhouse is huge -- 1754 sq. ft. with high ceilings, lots of windows, 3 bedrooms, 2.5 baths and my cook's kitchen. Plus I have a view of Mount Rainier and of the industrial part of the Theo Fossway (part of the Sound).
You can find the link at:
http://www.dwellingcompany.com/metro/metro_index.html
I am 2-9 and I got them to come way down on the price and got them to throw in my closing costs, and the fridge and washer/dryer. (Because the market is so down, they took it....) I'll post pictures when I can....
Well we were supposed to close on Oct. 26. And we have not.
I moved into the townhouse on a rent-back basis (no cost except for utilities) but have not officially closed on it since the developer forgot to file the final plat with the city. It was supposed to be a win-win sitaution (live rent free and show that someone is occupying one of the nine units since all the rest are vacant. One did have an offer on it but they backed out when they could also not close in October.)
And now, with the holidays coming, the closing keeps being pushed further back. (Last I heard was Dec. 17 but that is questionable since the holidays tend to interrupt city meetings).
I wouldn't be so nervous but there are a lot of developed new properties sitting vacant and some developers have started to convert to rentals just to salvage the developments. I am really worried about this happening to mine... and the developer is not helping things a bit.
They are slow to returns calls, have not installed my garage door opener and I have had a few minor house repairs already -- ok, one major one: there was a lower leak in the bathroom I discovered Tuesday morning and they had to rip out the pedestal sink, and i have several large holes in the drywall all the way up the 22' ceiling. I now need to wait for the wood to dry out and make sure they really got the leak before they patch and repair the walls and repaint. Thank god that is the cat's bathroom or I would be even more mad!
Both my mortgage broker and realtor are equally nervous for me -- and think I should back out of the house and cut my losses -- but i have already spent a good chunk of money installing a brinks alarm system, my new flat screen lcd tv and custom blinds -- which were so much since i have tons of windows and large ones to boot.
Plus you figure in all the costs to repack and move me again (and I am still paying some of my first moving costs as I went over the News Tribune budget with my storage costs which I didn't think to bargain for -- d'oh!) and well, my head is spinning.
So I am slowly freaking out.... And to top it all off, McClatchy's stock (the parent company of the paper I work for) has gone into the toilet -- and our bosses seem to bring it up as if to warn us for things to come. Since we are not union, I think I am safe -- but if they do lay people off it will be more work for the rest of us. (A night leader pointed out that I am relatively safe as the only full-time female on the staff -- we have two part time female reporters -- and he subtle mentioned that they need me as their lead designer.)
So all in all, kind of a shitty week. Work-wise, they praise my designs and let me know practically every day how much they love having me around. I do like working for the paper and i think I made a good career move - everyone has been really kind and helpful in offering any type of support for getting to know the paper and area.
But I feel as if the rest of my life is slowly falling apart. I pulled the house in Florida off the market and got an email from that realtor today saying most houses in the style and size of ours are going for $140,000 (it was valued just a year ago at $210,000 for chrissake....) So that will have to sit off the market for awhile but I do hope this market at least comes back a little so I have one less burden to carry.
I am a firm believer in you reap what you sow. And I would like to think I have been a good, kind person to almost all who have crossed my path. I may not be the quickest to get back to people when it comes to phone calls and emails -- but do know that I do think about all of you often -- and wonder if I should have stayed in Dallas.
As for Mr. Big, well, I am still nursing my bruises from that relationship: the promises, the secrets and ultimately, that he couldn't go through massive changes in his life to be with me -- that I was not worth so many things that this man had told me I was.
The whole premise originally to come out to the Seatac area was to be with someone who I thought loved and cared for me -- and wanted to start a new life together out here. The move out here had been in the works for awhile and it all started to unravel as I was giving my acceptance to take the job here in Tacoma.
I could have stayed in Dallas -- and let's be honest -- a small 1% of me hoped with all my heart that he would change his mind once I got out here. But he hasn't....and even though I am only 40 minutes away from him, I have not spoken to him in 60 days -- since the day I picked up my stuff from our apartment in downtown Seattle. (Yes, we had an apartment and things we bought together... and all I have as a reminder of that relationship are some pictures and money sitting in an account that I have not touched since he cut me that check.)
It has taken this bad breakup to finally wake me up to the realization that I need to be on my own for awhile and learn who I am before I can be a good partner to the next person. People at work (and yes, that's all I have had time for in the last 2 months between getting settled in here and the trip to Spain --- although I have had several offers to get to know others outside of work and am now taking people up on those offers) seem to think that I need to get back into the saddle and start dating again -- but frankly I'm too worn out from all that has happened between Mr. Big and I and I don't think I could really face any more rejection and disappointment in my life right now.
I have gone through ever stage of mourning of that relationship -- denial, anger, blame and sadness. Some nights are sad -- and lonely being away from all my friends -- I admit. But these past few months have shown me that I can do this on my own. That I really am a strong, independent woman who doesn't need a man to complete her. That I can stand on my own two feet for once -- I may stumble and curse and bruise myself along the way -- but in the end it is just me who can make me happy.
So enough of sad topics.... wish me luck and that this townhouse thing moves two steps forward and not one step back -- or I may be showing up on your doorstep with a trailer of household goods and two cats.
Well, that's how I feel right now. Things have not been the smoothest in my move to Tacoma... I decided to buy a townhouse after my relationship with Mr. Big (the unnamed boyfriend who kindly dumped me when the offer came in from the News Tribune) and I found this amazing place that is an area of town that is being redeveloped -- urban, close to downtown and lots of potential. The townhouse is huge -- 1754 sq. ft. with high ceilings, lots of windows, 3 bedrooms, 2.5 baths and my cook's kitchen. Plus I have a view of Mount Rainier and of the industrial part of the Theo Fossway (part of the Sound).
You can find the link at:
http://www.dwellingcompany.com/metro/metro_index.html
I am 2-9 and I got them to come way down on the price and got them to throw in my closing costs, and the fridge and washer/dryer. (Because the market is so down, they took it....) I'll post pictures when I can....
Well we were supposed to close on Oct. 26. And we have not.
I moved into the townhouse on a rent-back basis (no cost except for utilities) but have not officially closed on it since the developer forgot to file the final plat with the city. It was supposed to be a win-win sitaution (live rent free and show that someone is occupying one of the nine units since all the rest are vacant. One did have an offer on it but they backed out when they could also not close in October.)
And now, with the holidays coming, the closing keeps being pushed further back. (Last I heard was Dec. 17 but that is questionable since the holidays tend to interrupt city meetings).
I wouldn't be so nervous but there are a lot of developed new properties sitting vacant and some developers have started to convert to rentals just to salvage the developments. I am really worried about this happening to mine... and the developer is not helping things a bit.
They are slow to returns calls, have not installed my garage door opener and I have had a few minor house repairs already -- ok, one major one: there was a lower leak in the bathroom I discovered Tuesday morning and they had to rip out the pedestal sink, and i have several large holes in the drywall all the way up the 22' ceiling. I now need to wait for the wood to dry out and make sure they really got the leak before they patch and repair the walls and repaint. Thank god that is the cat's bathroom or I would be even more mad!
Both my mortgage broker and realtor are equally nervous for me -- and think I should back out of the house and cut my losses -- but i have already spent a good chunk of money installing a brinks alarm system, my new flat screen lcd tv and custom blinds -- which were so much since i have tons of windows and large ones to boot.
Plus you figure in all the costs to repack and move me again (and I am still paying some of my first moving costs as I went over the News Tribune budget with my storage costs which I didn't think to bargain for -- d'oh!) and well, my head is spinning.
So I am slowly freaking out.... And to top it all off, McClatchy's stock (the parent company of the paper I work for) has gone into the toilet -- and our bosses seem to bring it up as if to warn us for things to come. Since we are not union, I think I am safe -- but if they do lay people off it will be more work for the rest of us. (A night leader pointed out that I am relatively safe as the only full-time female on the staff -- we have two part time female reporters -- and he subtle mentioned that they need me as their lead designer.)
So all in all, kind of a shitty week. Work-wise, they praise my designs and let me know practically every day how much they love having me around. I do like working for the paper and i think I made a good career move - everyone has been really kind and helpful in offering any type of support for getting to know the paper and area.
But I feel as if the rest of my life is slowly falling apart. I pulled the house in Florida off the market and got an email from that realtor today saying most houses in the style and size of ours are going for $140,000 (it was valued just a year ago at $210,000 for chrissake....) So that will have to sit off the market for awhile but I do hope this market at least comes back a little so I have one less burden to carry.
I am a firm believer in you reap what you sow. And I would like to think I have been a good, kind person to almost all who have crossed my path. I may not be the quickest to get back to people when it comes to phone calls and emails -- but do know that I do think about all of you often -- and wonder if I should have stayed in Dallas.
As for Mr. Big, well, I am still nursing my bruises from that relationship: the promises, the secrets and ultimately, that he couldn't go through massive changes in his life to be with me -- that I was not worth so many things that this man had told me I was.
The whole premise originally to come out to the Seatac area was to be with someone who I thought loved and cared for me -- and wanted to start a new life together out here. The move out here had been in the works for awhile and it all started to unravel as I was giving my acceptance to take the job here in Tacoma.
I could have stayed in Dallas -- and let's be honest -- a small 1% of me hoped with all my heart that he would change his mind once I got out here. But he hasn't....and even though I am only 40 minutes away from him, I have not spoken to him in 60 days -- since the day I picked up my stuff from our apartment in downtown Seattle. (Yes, we had an apartment and things we bought together... and all I have as a reminder of that relationship are some pictures and money sitting in an account that I have not touched since he cut me that check.)
It has taken this bad breakup to finally wake me up to the realization that I need to be on my own for awhile and learn who I am before I can be a good partner to the next person. People at work (and yes, that's all I have had time for in the last 2 months between getting settled in here and the trip to Spain --- although I have had several offers to get to know others outside of work and am now taking people up on those offers) seem to think that I need to get back into the saddle and start dating again -- but frankly I'm too worn out from all that has happened between Mr. Big and I and I don't think I could really face any more rejection and disappointment in my life right now.
I have gone through ever stage of mourning of that relationship -- denial, anger, blame and sadness. Some nights are sad -- and lonely being away from all my friends -- I admit. But these past few months have shown me that I can do this on my own. That I really am a strong, independent woman who doesn't need a man to complete her. That I can stand on my own two feet for once -- I may stumble and curse and bruise myself along the way -- but in the end it is just me who can make me happy.
So enough of sad topics.... wish me luck and that this townhouse thing moves two steps forward and not one step back -- or I may be showing up on your doorstep with a trailer of household goods and two cats.
Sunday, November 11, 2007
i could get used to Barcelona's laid back lifestyle!
Well Barcelona has been a blast!
We have not stayed out as late as we would have liked on most nights and now as we get to the end of our trip we are finally getting into the swing of this Spanish way of life!
Lots of walking in old neighborhoods and my feet are feeling the effects. But it has been all worth it. I have only once walked into a moving car *the steets are narrow and people,dogs,mopeds and cars all share the same 4 foot wide space. The guy driving his beamer gave me a dirty look since my elbow hit his side mirror and I gave just as dirty a look back!*
The artwork has been plentiful along with gaudi's influence of architecture on the rest of the city. We have seen lots of his standing work from la sagrida familia to the parc guell and a few current residences in use.
The metro has béen mastered and we are old pros by now. Only once did we get separated trying to board and I knew where I was going so I just took the next train. We got separated because this is the first city I have seen where people actually wait to let others get off and there is not enough time to get on.
We have been to el quim *a tapas bar* twice in the boquateria and the food has been out of this world. Also had a great seafood dinner last night near the port and we were lucky to get in without reservations. Can Rose has been around for 5 generations and it shows. The fiedos was so yuMmy!
Picasso was on our list today as well as parc guell and we had the same idea as the rest of Barcelona as most things are not open on Sundays.
Before that we went to the main Cathedral and did some people watching and got to see some local music played. It seems like a tradition for the locals to come out and dance in the main square after noon mass and it was fun to watch.
Cafes and people watching have become apie early evening routine as we write postcards.
Off to get some dinner and tomorrow go to Montsarret in the morning.
We have not stayed out as late as we would have liked on most nights and now as we get to the end of our trip we are finally getting into the swing of this Spanish way of life!
Lots of walking in old neighborhoods and my feet are feeling the effects. But it has been all worth it. I have only once walked into a moving car *the steets are narrow and people,dogs,mopeds and cars all share the same 4 foot wide space. The guy driving his beamer gave me a dirty look since my elbow hit his side mirror and I gave just as dirty a look back!*
The artwork has been plentiful along with gaudi's influence of architecture on the rest of the city. We have seen lots of his standing work from la sagrida familia to the parc guell and a few current residences in use.
The metro has béen mastered and we are old pros by now. Only once did we get separated trying to board and I knew where I was going so I just took the next train. We got separated because this is the first city I have seen where people actually wait to let others get off and there is not enough time to get on.
We have been to el quim *a tapas bar* twice in the boquateria and the food has been out of this world. Also had a great seafood dinner last night near the port and we were lucky to get in without reservations. Can Rose has been around for 5 generations and it shows. The fiedos was so yuMmy!
Picasso was on our list today as well as parc guell and we had the same idea as the rest of Barcelona as most things are not open on Sundays.
Before that we went to the main Cathedral and did some people watching and got to see some local music played. It seems like a tradition for the locals to come out and dance in the main square after noon mass and it was fun to watch.
Cafes and people watching have become apie early evening routine as we write postcards.
Off to get some dinner and tomorrow go to Montsarret in the morning.
Wednesday, November 7, 2007
Madrid to Barcelona
After getting up early again and getting ready, we realize our mistake in ordering a taxi too early as our flight leaves a lot later than we think.
So off for another walk around the aRea where Madrid is just starting to wake up and shops are not yet open at 9. The crisp air starts to make me hungry and a small breakfast of tea, juice and sweetbread for €2.50 fills us up. We talk to this older man* a little old NYC man traveling alone who doesn't speak any Spanish and I'd say was close to 70* who has just come from barcelona. We offer him some Madrid places to go and do while he tells us about some places there. We say our goodbyes as it is time to get back to the hotel and check out.
A harrowing ride to the airport 25 minutes later and we are both left a little quesy.
Ryanair is our carriEr and we both check luggage with no charges.
The rest of the trip is pretty uneventful as my stomach is a little nauseous and her head is bothering her. A bus ride follows that will take is into Barcelona as we flew in from a town about an hour outside of it called gerona. From the bus station, we call the woman who is to meet is at our flat and a little coMedy ensues as my phone tells me I need to be patched through to an operator for help but the call does go through to her and I mistakenly think she is the operator and try to tell her I want to make a call to Spain and she says you are calling Spain and Did I rent a flat?
We get instructions on how to get there which requires a metro ride, lots of stairs which make me wish I had packed less and I did this time too.!
We land in the middle of chaos in the catalunyan plaza. There is some BIG football match between Barcelona and the Rangers. And the steets are packed with drunken loud tailgaters who are heading toward us as we try to navigate to the flat. A long wait for the woman to show leads to lots of people watching and we finally get in.
Both of us by now are ready for a nap and i decide to go get is some sandwiches and drinks that will tide is over until a later dinner. But naps get the best of us and it is 11:30 when we wake up. Plans for tomOrrow require early waking to get to the market so we call it a night. But the revelers are still going and I am wide awake as I type this as it is close to 1 am now.
So off for another walk around the aRea where Madrid is just starting to wake up and shops are not yet open at 9. The crisp air starts to make me hungry and a small breakfast of tea, juice and sweetbread for €2.50 fills us up. We talk to this older man* a little old NYC man traveling alone who doesn't speak any Spanish and I'd say was close to 70* who has just come from barcelona. We offer him some Madrid places to go and do while he tells us about some places there. We say our goodbyes as it is time to get back to the hotel and check out.
A harrowing ride to the airport 25 minutes later and we are both left a little quesy.
Ryanair is our carriEr and we both check luggage with no charges.
The rest of the trip is pretty uneventful as my stomach is a little nauseous and her head is bothering her. A bus ride follows that will take is into Barcelona as we flew in from a town about an hour outside of it called gerona. From the bus station, we call the woman who is to meet is at our flat and a little coMedy ensues as my phone tells me I need to be patched through to an operator for help but the call does go through to her and I mistakenly think she is the operator and try to tell her I want to make a call to Spain and she says you are calling Spain and Did I rent a flat?
We get instructions on how to get there which requires a metro ride, lots of stairs which make me wish I had packed less and I did this time too.!
We land in the middle of chaos in the catalunyan plaza. There is some BIG football match between Barcelona and the Rangers. And the steets are packed with drunken loud tailgaters who are heading toward us as we try to navigate to the flat. A long wait for the woman to show leads to lots of people watching and we finally get in.
Both of us by now are ready for a nap and i decide to go get is some sandwiches and drinks that will tide is over until a later dinner. But naps get the best of us and it is 11:30 when we wake up. Plans for tomOrrow require early waking to get to the market so we call it a night. But the revelers are still going and I am wide awake as I type this as it is close to 1 am now.
it is all about the food and walking
Woke up at a respectable 9 am Tuesday after a few US phone calls rang through about 6 am.
Had great cheap breakfast at Madrid Madrid where we say in the bar area and watched workers come in for their cafe con leches, morning beers and bocadillas. Evetthing is served with some cut of jamon and I am surprisingly doing well. But our choice was a Spanish omelet or tortilla, sort of like a quiche but way better, filled with cheese and potatoes.
Back on the metro to the Sol area where the seat of Madrid starts and all steets are counted from.
We decided to do a walk through royal Madrid from a map in one of annals guidebooks. A few hits and misses at turning on to the right steets but we did make it through, seeing some of the oldest churches in the area, oldest restaurant and where the Muslims (or Moors) would have lived back then which is not a quaint area of trompe l'oeill painted apartments.
The tour ended at this convent where a group of clostered nuns run a cookie making operation. The whole fun part is trying to get in and buy the cookies where you ring the buzzer, figure out how to open the heavy wooden door and put your money in this lazy Susan and all of your contact is by voice and you never see the nuns. We missed the morning hours by 10 minutes but would later go back after lunch and it was well worth it. The orange flavored cookies are a cross between a delicate lady finger and shortbread and Anna and I have already eaten many of them throuGhout the day.
On to lunch., where we are the only ones at first in the dining rOom because at 1:30 it is still considered too early for lunch in Madrid. Anna found the best place for paella through a cooking show and they were right. We go with the paella mixto, some ham croquettes and the aqua con gas. All of which was more than enough and left us ready for a siesta. And yes the dining room by now is buzzing with activity at 3.
But we decide to walk it off and head over to one of the best art museums in the world - the Prado.
Many Goyas, some Miros and lots of 19th century historical paintings along with sculpture take up a few hours so that we are exhausted and head back to get those cookies, shop at a local artisans store and get me more clairitin which was a comedy into itself as I decided to go to into the farmacia by myself and with my limited Spanish get some more mostly by showing her the package.
A short siesta turns into a way too long one and our plan to go do tapas befor our flamenco show is scraped as we hurredly get ready and book over to the bar.
The show is amazing with dancers, singers and gUitarists and 2 glasses of sangria, some raccionnes *which I know know are larger plates of tapas and we ordered too many* and we both are content but still have one more stop: the chocaltier.
Open late and considered one of the best - the hot chocolate is so thick a spoon rests on it and the churros are greasy and light for dunking. The place stays open late and it is a mixture of locals and tourists at this late hour. By now I am glad we walked around so much of the city and mastered the
Metro as I have eaten my weight and had 3 meals in one day for the first time in who knows when.
Sleep comes quick after as we're leaving for Barcelona the next day.
Had great cheap breakfast at Madrid Madrid where we say in the bar area and watched workers come in for their cafe con leches, morning beers and bocadillas. Evetthing is served with some cut of jamon and I am surprisingly doing well. But our choice was a Spanish omelet or tortilla, sort of like a quiche but way better, filled with cheese and potatoes.
Back on the metro to the Sol area where the seat of Madrid starts and all steets are counted from.
We decided to do a walk through royal Madrid from a map in one of annals guidebooks. A few hits and misses at turning on to the right steets but we did make it through, seeing some of the oldest churches in the area, oldest restaurant and where the Muslims (or Moors) would have lived back then which is not a quaint area of trompe l'oeill painted apartments.
The tour ended at this convent where a group of clostered nuns run a cookie making operation. The whole fun part is trying to get in and buy the cookies where you ring the buzzer, figure out how to open the heavy wooden door and put your money in this lazy Susan and all of your contact is by voice and you never see the nuns. We missed the morning hours by 10 minutes but would later go back after lunch and it was well worth it. The orange flavored cookies are a cross between a delicate lady finger and shortbread and Anna and I have already eaten many of them throuGhout the day.
On to lunch., where we are the only ones at first in the dining rOom because at 1:30 it is still considered too early for lunch in Madrid. Anna found the best place for paella through a cooking show and they were right. We go with the paella mixto, some ham croquettes and the aqua con gas. All of which was more than enough and left us ready for a siesta. And yes the dining room by now is buzzing with activity at 3.
But we decide to walk it off and head over to one of the best art museums in the world - the Prado.
Many Goyas, some Miros and lots of 19th century historical paintings along with sculpture take up a few hours so that we are exhausted and head back to get those cookies, shop at a local artisans store and get me more clairitin which was a comedy into itself as I decided to go to into the farmacia by myself and with my limited Spanish get some more mostly by showing her the package.
A short siesta turns into a way too long one and our plan to go do tapas befor our flamenco show is scraped as we hurredly get ready and book over to the bar.
The show is amazing with dancers, singers and gUitarists and 2 glasses of sangria, some raccionnes *which I know know are larger plates of tapas and we ordered too many* and we both are content but still have one more stop: the chocaltier.
Open late and considered one of the best - the hot chocolate is so thick a spoon rests on it and the churros are greasy and light for dunking. The place stays open late and it is a mixture of locals and tourists at this late hour. By now I am glad we walked around so much of the city and mastered the
Metro as I have eaten my weight and had 3 meals in one day for the first time in who knows when.
Sleep comes quick after as we're leaving for Barcelona the next day.
Monday, November 5, 2007
the good but chaotic life
Since I last left off, I was somewhere in Nepal...well in those past few months lots has changed.
I left Dallas, moved to Tacoma,WA and have started working for the News tribune as their lead sports designer.
I am in the extremely long process of buying a townhouse (more on that later... That is a very long post)
Things have been pretty crazed the past few months with the job search *more on that later also because there is so much drama leading up to why I decided to move and what ultimately brougt me to the SeaTac area* but again later as I write this on my blackbert from halfway around the world.
Oh yes. I have gone and left the country again. This time it is Spain, in particular, Madrid and Barcelona. I met my friend Anna here as we had started to plan this trip before I left Dallas.
Some of these entries may be a little cryptic becuse of the typing and time restraints but I want to keep people posted and updated since I have tons of emails to catch up on from the past 30 days.
Left Seattle at 6 am Sunday morning after working long tiring sports shift where it was the first Saturday that I was in charge.
Delayed arrival from Miami, long taxi line, problem getting money out of ATM since I forgot to call bank and let them know I was going to Spain.
But made it to hotel - cute and cheap. Anna was delayed also so she thought she would wait for me at airport, then missed me. Both of us were hungry so we set off out our door after I took a quick shower to wash off all the stink of 24 hours of travel.
Walked around Plaza mayor. Beautiful day. Lunch of jamon, queso and calamari and bread. Long leisurly lunch to catch up with Anna on all that has happened in last month. Great people watching.
Walked down calle Atocha to museum reina to see Picasso's guernica and other modern art pieces (some Miros, Dal other Picasso).
Most shops are closed as it is siesta time. Go back to hotel for short nap that turns into long one. Both of us are not hungry and after an hour of planning our day we call it a night and plan to get up early tomorrow.
I left Dallas, moved to Tacoma,WA and have started working for the News tribune as their lead sports designer.
I am in the extremely long process of buying a townhouse (more on that later... That is a very long post)
Things have been pretty crazed the past few months with the job search *more on that later also because there is so much drama leading up to why I decided to move and what ultimately brougt me to the SeaTac area* but again later as I write this on my blackbert from halfway around the world.
Oh yes. I have gone and left the country again. This time it is Spain, in particular, Madrid and Barcelona. I met my friend Anna here as we had started to plan this trip before I left Dallas.
Some of these entries may be a little cryptic becuse of the typing and time restraints but I want to keep people posted and updated since I have tons of emails to catch up on from the past 30 days.
Left Seattle at 6 am Sunday morning after working long tiring sports shift where it was the first Saturday that I was in charge.
Delayed arrival from Miami, long taxi line, problem getting money out of ATM since I forgot to call bank and let them know I was going to Spain.
But made it to hotel - cute and cheap. Anna was delayed also so she thought she would wait for me at airport, then missed me. Both of us were hungry so we set off out our door after I took a quick shower to wash off all the stink of 24 hours of travel.
Walked around Plaza mayor. Beautiful day. Lunch of jamon, queso and calamari and bread. Long leisurly lunch to catch up with Anna on all that has happened in last month. Great people watching.
Walked down calle Atocha to museum reina to see Picasso's guernica and other modern art pieces (some Miros, Dal other Picasso).
Most shops are closed as it is siesta time. Go back to hotel for short nap that turns into long one. Both of us are not hungry and after an hour of planning our day we call it a night and plan to get up early tomorrow.
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