If the links don't work, try here instead - My blog: http://jhjenn.blogspot.com
And Christmas Eve spectacular here http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IR8zjT6YwS4 and http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IR8zjT6YwS4

Hi XXXXX ,

Well, I'm feeling a bit better. Talking with you helped. Pedro and his girlfriend came shortly after and told me how life is like a play and not to let my pride get in the way doing a "better job." (sucking up?) They gave me a lift near my house where there was a workmates party, and I overheard there that the big party the night before sucked, was weird, and that some people were told by the head of the school that there work wasn't "good enough." Word is the principal who gave me the bad rating is in trouble for not doing formal observations LAST YEAR, so seems to be making up for time now by being a bitch.

I meet a nice girl that works at the school that knows me, although I've never seen her. Alexandra. Seems like a level headed party girl.

You'd be proud too. Since having overdone three (3) scotch the last week 1/2 ago, (which is the Hungarian equivalent of 9!) I've been very careful of my drinking. Tonight, a total of 5x 33cl of beer, then two diet cokes. And of course the 20 sardines to cushion it all.

Oh, the title of the email... If a tree falls in the forest and no one is there to hear it, does it make a sound? Well, I keep leaving the house with my ADSL running, but not necessarily downloading anything. I know you say you are not the expert on ADSL, but its that eating up my unlimited byte usage????

Thanks for calling,
Jenn

So long as hope has anything of green. -Dante

I learned a new Spanish word today - un pijo. It means something of how the young of the nouveau riche show off that wealth. Anyway... I was leaning over one of my students when I found myself asking, "Is that Polo? Are you wearing the cologne Polo??" Indeed it was. I don't know about you girls,and/or boys, but I haven't smelled Ralph Lauren since about 1990!!! Ah, only the briefest memories-they were pijos too.

http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=pijo

Bud Spencer and Terence Hill?!

Yesterday after a quite pleasent day out, I found myself in the DVD section of El Corte Ingles. Much more crowded, it being the Xmas season and all the shops open late on Sundays now.
Anyway...

As I was searching for any Spanish films staring Leonardo Sbaraglia, film crush at the moment, I hear next to me.... "Eh, Eh. Aqui! Aqui! Esta!!!!" Two, probably not homeless, but definitely smelling, men had found the film they had been looking for. The fat one ran right over - ran. It was one of the million Bud Spencer and Terence Hill films. (not a fan myself, but probably too young to have understood the gross humor when I saw them).

Honestly, it was so exciting. When they looked at the price, I couldn't tell if it was too much, or really cheep by their reaction. I thought for sure they would buy it, but they didn't. I thought momentary of buying it for them. Wondered if they had a DVD player. Still. They left, empty handing, but in such a good mood.

Sunday morning. 11am. I meant to be up early, of course, but will turn off Internet after this point so that I may leave the house and do something with this weekend. It appears to be bright blue and sunny too (yesterday was cloudy).

But first, I must finish watching my favorite Spanish tv program: Taxi, Taxi.

It's like Trivial Pursuit, but in a taxi.

Did I hear correctly? A man stopped me yesterday as asked where the "boca de metro" was. Mouth of subway? I told him where, but what a strange picture I had in my head. Perhaps because I've been handing out these ugly cartoon photos of mouths when my students forget to speak English in the classroom. Boca de metro, indeed.

The soccer world (which means almost all of it except the USA) mourns the loss of one of the most legendary footballers - Puskás Öcsi, “Pequeño Hermano,” and apparently also the "little fat chap" - Ferenc Puskas

It all sounds more dramatic in the Spanish language - Hungría se despertó hoy en lágrimas/Today a despaired Hungary in tears. http://www.pestiside.hu/archives/when_he_was_leading_us_we_could_beat_the_world002873.php#comment


Real Madrid will salute him at tomorrow's game.

Ahh, sunny morning. I get a bit hot in my long-sleave shirt:-)

However, by the time I was leaving school... cold and windy. But pretty clouds, and one of those dark/light thunderous skies.

Burr. Cold rain all day. I measure it all in sock usage. Sunny and over 18c means no socks. Tre European, eh. Under that... burrrr. It was so cold today that not only did I have to wear socks, but I was thinking about taking out my winter jacket for tomorrow!!!

I was probably just over-reacting. I'm sure a long-sleeve t-shirt instead of a tank will be enough with my raincoat.

On the way to the Grados mountian range last month.

This wine tastes of caramel.

The best photo I took! I'm so good!

I was on Spanish TV last Wednesday. One of my Spanish colleagues announced she had seen me. I had gone to a very lame Democrats Abroad party at an Irish Pub. I felt the camera light on me when I let out a big yahoo when it was announced Daniel Ortega had won his election in Nicaragua.

I sure don't miss CNN or Wolf Blitzer.

Three months into it, this is the best school for my well-being that I've worked at.

However....

Geeze I work with some all too serious, defensive people. Hey, have you seen Little Miss Shunshine ? Ya, a LONG TIME AGO. Sorry, I didn't know it was a contest!

Hey, you going to Lynn's party, you are getting directions now, you say you are easily lost, and we are neighbors, so I'll go. Oh, well.... I'm gegtting together with Joanne, who you know, but if you want to share a taxi home? Oh ya... in the words and manner of a yhoung Steve Martin... Excuuuuse Meee!

Not the worst school atmosphere I've ever worked at, by far... it just amazes me how unpleasent and defensive peopel can be, without any cause that I can see.

Maybe I missing something??? (I hope not though)

Yeah... ADSL, finally.

Honestly, only been able to do work at work. Que strange, ya?

Now, to catch up with those 180 email messages in my inbox - and that's just in GMAIL!

But, no excuses. I set now with a nice glass of red wine --- so much of it out here that I rarely partake, but was a gift, PLUS, someone at school actually remembered me complaining that I didn't have a corkscrew and brought me one! I hardly know this girl, but so far she's been nicer than the people I came in with.

More about that later......

Last night I was making talk (not small) with a nice young man at a very 'exclusivo' gay bar when I insulted Spanish TV. "! La televisor en Espana es horrible!" "Oh, yo trabajo en television." Opps. He shared this tidbit with his boyfriend, the handsome bartender. I'm glad I can make people laugh in a foreign language :-))) Really. BTW, said young man is the afternoon weatherman for one of the smaller stations, and Swiss at that.

As long as we are on the gay theme.... and this is where I might need to add password protection.... went to a simple transvestite show too- first, ... so I thought. I never thought I'd see what I saw on stage!!!! I think that is illegal in at least 49 US states! At least illegal for FREE! Not that I'm cheep. I just don't find those Chipendale kinda things all that sexy.... I best stop blabbing here....

Another unplanned holiday.

Yes, a five day weekend!!! Most teachers are off to a conference in Egypt. I figured I'd go to Budapest or Brussels. Made no plans for either. I did check for flights though, and direct to BP is 900EUR !!!! Less than 300 EUR is a change or two and can take seven hours.

Anyway... I'm broke. I have bills to pay in the USA. Plus, the ATM ate my debit card, so I can't buy anything online anyway.

I might go down to Granada for a couple of day? Maybe see Cordoba. Should probably see about pensions?

Santiago de Compostela.

We had a four day weekend, so, as I always fail to even think about plans on these occasions, I had decided to just go up to SC with three other teachers. Boring!!!

However, I had a great day when I spent the day in the city by myself (they were on a day trip). I wandered, I took photos, I ate tapas, drank nice dry regional wine....

My horoscope that day though, in the local paper, in Spanish, promised great intimacy and more, THAT DAY. I kept my eyes open. I guess it really meant with myself.

I have much better pictures, but no time to go through them just yet.

Busy month! First week I went to the Grados moutains here near Madrid. It was a three day field-trip. The constant buzz of 33 kids screaming nonstop physically hurt my years. Took two days to recover once back.

Toledo. I love the muted desert colors blending into the muted desert colors.

Quality alcohol is quite cheap out here, at least compared the USA (NYC in particular), and Budapest. No need for "duty free" here. When you order a drink, the waiter brings the whole bottle of Jack, Johnnie, or Beefeater, and pours, and pours, sometimes nearly a whole glass! That's with or without ice. So, quality not quantity, 3.50-6 $ is a fine evening out.

Sault!

Long days at school this week.

At least it's still pretty sunny at 7pm. Went for Mexican food then. A little place near Opera. I loved the "carta", or menu - it really was a carta, eh.

Bizzar flirting.

I remember now being here in the 90s and how creepy it was when old Spanish men cat called. Tick tick tick, it sounded like. Still creepy. Sunday I went to the Rastro, or flea market, and after I emerged from the subway, heading toward a breakfast bar, an older man in a suit looks at my water bottle and says, "Dime alguien agua." I when I didn't hear him he repeated it louder and meaner. When I tried a mouth a friendly nondescript response, he yelled! "Give me some water!" (in Spanish of course).

Creepy.

I was asked to cover up at school today! The shock, the shame.

Good thing I didn't go with that strappy
backless number :-O

Don Quixote

Kept stumbling on this guy on a recent outing to Toledo. Had the idea that I should be photographed with each one I find, anytime, anywhere. Let's see if that happens.

Oh ya, done this a million times before... why bother. No! I won´t be cynical. I´ve recently moved to Madrid, Spain, as many of you know. I may think I´m an old hand at moving between countries, but I think it may be important for me, to me, to keep a record, or scrapbook of how I´ll see and experience things this year, and next, and......

Also, instead of the odd long post, the oversized .jpg files, I´ll do it all here, and you can check at will. I hope this will be interesting for all.

BTW, this is my first blog. I considered before, and tried once or twice, but nothing that interesting was happening, plus, if it was to be a diary, I didn´t want to share that in cyberspace for anyone to see, or not see. But this is to be a scrap book, more portable than the kind with paper pages and pounds of photos, plus, I´ll do all the detailed blabbing on each photo or event here, instead of your living room, ha ha.

Enjoy. Reply. I intend to.