Monthly Archives: July 2008

July 16, 2008 · 1:10 pm

Thelonious and The Office

monk-medley.JPG

On Sunday, I did two things that have led into a spiral towards a cross-eyed vision and a headache. First, I decided to continue my efforts to revisit and revive music in my iTunes library that I often neglect. This time I selected my entire Thelonious Monk collection and proceeded to play through it at random.

At the same time, I ventured to finally check out The Office — I went for the U.S. version because it was readily and freely available in streaming. You might call me passionate or you might call me obsessive, but I have fully consumed all four seasons of the show and have gotten through all eighteen Monk albums in my collection in the past four days. Continue reading →

2 Comments

Filed under Digressions, Jazz

Tagged as

July 12, 2008 · 6:58 pm

Playing It Old School

PB&J

Today for lunch, I elected to play it old school with a PB&J and a good old fashioned Coca-Cola. That’s right. No jamón, no tortilla española, paella, or other local dish. Actually, tonight I have friends in town and will have to do the whole tapas thing.

This morning I woke up and it was finally cooler outside. I opened the window and there was a nice breeze. My refrigerator and cupboards were empty, save for some jelly and a faithful jar of Peter Pan Extra Crunchy that I only crack open for special occasions. And what is a better occasion than a quiet Saturday midday with a fresh breeze?

When I was a kid we were only allowed to drink Coke almost exclusively when we were on vacation with my maternal grandmother. Now that I am more autonomous than at eight years old, I ran down to the corner convinience store and got me a bottle of Coke and a loaf of sliced bread. I came back home and prepared myself two peanut butter and jelly sandwiches to be occampanied by one Coca-Cola.

A Coke, a PB&J, and some fresh air, and that, my friends, tastes like a childhood vacation. The only things missing were drinking the Coke out of an eight ounce glass bottte and a road trip to New Jersey.

Leave a comment

Filed under Digressions, Living la vida española

Tagged as

July 11, 2008 · 9:53 pm

The Headbutt Celebrated Around the World

z2.jpg

I am not quite sure why two year old sporting news is relevant in an interview with a woman who has just escaped after six years as a hostage, but apparently Ingrid Betancourt has recently discussed in Paris Match her reaction to Zidane’s infamous headbutt in the 2006 World Cup finals. As reported, Betancourt fully supported Zizou.

While I did my best to rationalize Zizou’s counter-agression as a political statement against the tolerance of racism and the hyprocisy of patriotism, I still do not see why it is being discussed with Betancourt. Unless she simply felt compelled to assert her Frenchness to the French reading public?

Leave a comment

Filed under Digressions, Zizou

Tagged as

July 11, 2008 · 11:31 am

Your Children Should Learn Spanish

Obama is right. Your children should learn to speak Spanish, but he forgot to mention that I have to learn French ASAP. My guess is that it won’t be so difficult once I put a little more effort into the endeavor.

Seriously, I think Obama is definitely correct (though he failed to mention that he himself doesn’t speak Spanish). After living in Spain for eight years (and having already known the language) and now that I am spending so much time in France, I can’t stress how important it is to speak another language. Your world opens up to infinite possibilities when you speak another language. Not only can you order the sandwich of your choice, ask for directions and understand them, bridge the cliche cultural and political gaps, but most importantly you can “participate” in all senses of the word.

5 Comments

Filed under Digressions, Obama 08

Tagged as

July 8, 2008 · 6:10 pm

The Summer of George

So far it has been a great Summer for Spain. The Spanish national soccer team won the European Cup, and Rafael Nadal just won Wimbledon. You could also say that I have had a great Summer so far. During June alone, I traveled non stop between Madrid and Paris, and have been in Rabat and Rome.

As a matter of fact, I have only spent one out of the past six weekends in Madrid. Ironically, it doesn’t feel much like Summer to me right now. I am looking out the window at a rainy, cold and windy day in Paris. It is 65ºF and feels more like October than July. Meanwile in Madrid — where I am spending an average of two to three days a week — it is 90ºF with clear skies.

At least my summer is better than the Summer of George.

Leave a comment

Filed under Digressions, Football/Soccer, Living la vida española

Tagged as

July 8, 2008 · 2:20 pm

19 Courses to Fight Hunger

fighting-hunger.jpg

I just read this article in El Mundo (in Spanish) about the leaders of the G8 dining together in Tokyo to discuss how to solve the problems of world hunger, increasing food costs, and food shortages (amongst other issues). The meal? Nineteen courses. It’s good to be the king(s).

Of course, I have recently written about excellent meals myself in Rome and Paris.

1 Comment

Filed under Essays

Tagged as

July 6, 2008 · 1:29 pm

Sunday Brunch in Paris

 brunch-in-paris.JPG

And then there is Sunday brunch in Paris at William and Yasmine’s place.

Leave a comment

Filed under Friends / Family

Tagged as

July 5, 2008 · 2:08 pm

When in Rome

pasta.JPG

When in Rome . . . eat like you’re at home? One of the things I loved most about Rome was the food. Ironically, the Italian food in Rome is almost as good as it is in the U.S. Seriously, though, the pasta, gnocchi, and pizza all reminded me of home.

As seen above, one night we had gnocchi with tomato sauce, basil, and mozzarella, and then probably one of the best pastas I have ever tasted: linguine with shrimp, zuccini, and fiore di zucca (squash flowers).

caprese.JPG

You also have to realize that I don’t get good mozzarella or basil in Spain. At Italian restaurants in Spain, they almost always substitute the basil with oregano — and I just don’t go for that. So at every meal, I had to doubled up with a caprese salad (tomatoes, mozzarella and basil) that could have come out of my mother’s garden. Continue reading →

Leave a comment

Filed under Digressions

Tagged as

July 3, 2008 · 11:09 am

Good for the Goose

dead-toreador.jpg

Yesterday, the New York Times reported that the U.S. government modeled Guantánamo interrogation techniques directly on a Chinese torture manual for inducing false confessions. I wonder whether John McCain still thinks that the Supreme Court’s decision was one of its worst? Does Justice Scalia believe that torturing someone until they confess to anything will save lives?

Leave a comment

Filed under Essays

Tagged as

July 1, 2008 · 3:25 pm

Roma Eterna

troiano.JPG

It’s hard to believe that after living in Europe for eight years, I had never been to Rome before.  That all changed this weekend! Especially for the past month, I have been going back and forth between Madrid and Paris. Paris must be one of the most spectacularly beautiful cities in the world, and Madrid is one of the most agradable. So was it so surprising that I should find myself so surprised by Rome’s stereotypical and cliché eternal beauty? I had assumed that I would be most impressed by Michelangelo’s Rome, by the renaissance Rome, and by the Rome of the narrow alleys and colorful houses. Continue reading →

3 Comments

Filed under Digressions

Tagged as