Googling

You've probably heard of the term. "To Google" someone is to type in their full name and see what pops up. It's good for a laugh, or interesting to see what you can find out about a person. Google my name and you get a whole lot of academic links because I'm a dork and apparently my fame is to be of the fleeting kind. Google my best friend's name and you get a photo of him the size of Alaska and about 15 articles on his year-long stint in Miss Saigon. So I'm not in any Broadway musical, but what's up with that?

RINGRINGRINGRING

Do you know the time difference between Texas and Spain? I didn't, not until this morning at 5:40 a.m. when my phone rang.
Just so we're clear here everybody (Mark), it's 7 hours.

Phone Calls, Meetings

Ancient and just about only Spanish friend Alberto called around midnight to tell me that he was accepted into an internship that will send him to Johannesburg, South Africa for a year. He's leaving the first week in October. We spent about thirty minutes on the phone, and as always we laughed a lot. I stumbled over my Spanish in happiness and from lack of practice. I hung up the phone and realized that unless I really make things change this Fall, I'm kinda Spanish-friendless and just a little bit more lonely.

Tomorrow is the meeting with Boss about my reduction to a more manageable 20-hour work week. According to Emily from work, I also should be negotiating my "You got shafted" salary as well. I've already mentioned it, but the outcome will decide if I'm staying in Spain or packing up my stuff and getting the hell outta Dodge. And what do I want? Shrug. As Alberto packs for South Africa and I look into a foggy future of Grad Schools and Spanish speaking, I like to imagine there's some kind of silver lining, some longshot hope that the last three months could make it all worth while. But at this point, folding t-shirts at the Gap Outlet is looking pretty appealing next to teaching English.

The Brawny Man

New and improved Brawny Man made headlines a little while back. Since then, Brawny has been all over their guy, groping and squeezing him to get as much publicity as they can. I saw some links to the Brawny website, and fooled around a bit after realizing it was much more than shopping for paper products. It's actually pretty well put-together and funny, although relevance to paper towels seems somewhat minimal.

Innocent Escapes

Dear Australia

I was thinking recently upon all you've given me, dear Australia. Although many of us have never visited your bountiful land, you've seen fit to provide us all with a great many things by your hand. Ah, your goodness.

Ian Thorpe Yowza. I'm starting to see what all the fuss is about. According to his online bio, 23 years old and loves to eat Uncle Toby's Sports Plus Cereal and blah blah blah. Really, the pics are the best parts.

Kath & Kim Only very recently have I caught on to this television show that's apparently in it's third season. The story revolves around Kath, a "fortysomething empty nester" and her spoiled daughter Kim. The funny is in the way they say things, not necessarily what they say.

Missy Higgins I thee dub The Next Big Musical Thing, Missy. Please pack your bags and your songs "Scar" and "They Weren't There", we'll be sending for you shortly.

Kangaroos Ever been driving down a rural road at night and suddenly a deer appears in the road in front of you? Imagine if deer were bouncing E-VE-RY-WHERE. Although it is the national symbol and all, and it's so darn cute... wouldn't you?

U.S. Foods I Cannot Wait To Eat, and May Possibly Devour Immediately Upon Arrival

Summertime Musings

I've been quiet because I'm still totally digging Madrid in the summer. My life without work has been uncomplicated and filled with ample amounts of pool time, although I foresee that money will become an issue before I receive my first paycheck in early November. I've also realized that I'm due for one more psychotic discussion with my crazy boss about reducing my hours and moving to part time status once and for all. After three trimesters of goofy yes-no-yes-no about my hours, I'm digging in my heels and refusing to budge. This uncompromising stance could theoretically make me jobless, which means that I may be returning home early. The problem is that I've spent too much time in Spain working to allow my final three months to be taken over by the demon that is English Teaching Abroad. I rue the day I met you, luring me in with false hopes of easy money!

In between time spent at the pool and time spent mulling over future possibilities, I've been preparing for my month-long trip back to the States. When I come back from that trip I'll have three months and then a tearful goodbye to Spain, which complicates the packing process. I've been feverisly playing the Gamecube because I have a feeling it's gonna get stowed away pretty soon. I've also gotten a little worried about seeing everyone for the first time in so many months. Not counting the Lightning Weekend in March, I haven't been home since Christmas (I say smugly). It's a bit like a test, or a challenge; holding your breath underwater. How long can I stay submerged in Spanish culture? Although really, it's not like I'm in Nigeria; my greatest cultural quandry is choosing over Burger King or Telepizza on my way to the swimming pool. And that's exactly the kind of culture I can live with.