I had to have a nap today. I was up late last night and I was cranky after class. But it was a lovely night and then also a lovely nap. We were at our new favorite restaurant in Jerez. It’s called La Farola or The Lampost and it’s at C/Francos 10. The “C” there must be the abbreviation for Calle, which is street or road or thereabouts. They are open from 19 until 00:15 but we were there until 01:30. I took a pamphlet from them because their hours aren’t posted anywhere handy on their storefront, so we didn’t know if we were there past closing. The guy working said it was ok, though. There’s a map on the pamphlet too, but I shan’t try to describe that as the geography here includes a fourth dimension that is hard to explain (nevermind navigate). I am familiar with Francos St, however, because I have travelled it every day for the past 2 weeks on my way to classes. It starts at the Jerez Flamenco Centre and ends at a plaza with a church that has shrubbery growing on it.
Category: Food
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I’ve spent the past few days dancing and resting and drinking and watching (spectacles). The day before yesterday the bunch of us went for a tasting at the Gonzales Byass sherry bodega. For 19 euros we got a tour of the place, four samples and tapas. Thank goodness for the tapas because the “samples” came in the form of four wine glasses of sherry right in front of us. Result: happy group. Result 2: I don’t think I like sherry- at least not four samples of it at the same time.
I could have met up with the Alma de Espania group who are here and doing a day trip to Cadiz today but I have not gone for the following reasons: my feet are sore, and I need to get groceries. Stores aren’t open on Sundays and I’m out of food, particularly, breakfast food. Also last night we were up late following some native Jerez-ians to a pena* and so no one has gotten up in time.
We are losing 3 of the 6 smart women who have been sharing the apartment here. Two are off to Ronda and Granada for the sights and shopping; one is back to Germany, where she lives. However we have acquired a new roomie for the remainder of the time here: the new dynamic shall be 3 smart women and a guy.
*Pena- should have a swoosh over the N, so it’s pronounced “pen-ya”. According to our Jerez-ian guides, it’s a small, intimate show, in this case, a singer. Also in this case, a few hundred people “intimately” packed into a small venue.
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So here I am in Jerez de la Frontera, Andelucia, Spain, going to my first flameco class tomorrow. If I happen to run across myself from 2 or so years ago and told me what I was up to, I’d be all “what the fuckitty-do is going on here, miss classy pants, and what the hell have you done to your hair??? It looks GREAT.”
We went grocery shopping tonight. (There are five of us now, the sixth joining us tomorrow at noon.) I did ok reading the ingredients looking for “leche”. I found some vanilla soy milk and also some soy yogurt. I’m scared to try the soy yogurt just in case I missed something. I might be living on bread and meat for the next two weeks.
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Madrid
We arrived in Madrid late due to mechanical problems at Heathrow. All so tired. The hotel is nice. The room has a living room and then a sliding door into the bedroom, which works out well for thlse of us (me) who don’t recover well from jetlag. I’ve sequestered myself in the outer room since I’m awake anyway.
There was red wine last night at the restaurant up the street from the hotel that we immediately recognised as an establishment used to tourists as the hostess took one look at us and gave us English menus.
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I forgot how much it suuuuucks to fly to England. 8.5 hours this time and at 1.5 hours in I’m all Oh My God we’re not even close to Halfway There : HURRY UUUUUP! Luckily though I slept for a while, which is rather a coup for me. Usually I don’t sleep on transit.
Please note the little boxes of raisins that came with my lunch.
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I’m going to miss a few places in Victoria while I’m out of the country. The Thrifty foods by my house. The dance studio. The library. I don’t go to the library very often (I go to the downtown branch) but I was there the other day returning a book before I left so I didn’t have to pay a fine and I appreciated how nice it is to be in a familiar place.
I was at my neighbourhood Thrifty foods this morning to pick up some candied ginger and again, I looked around, and noted that I wouldn’t be visiting for a few weeks and I was pleased to be breaking my routine for a little while. But I’ll get back to it soon, and then I’ll be pleased to get back to it.
I’ve spent the late afternoon today at the Vancouver airport. We arrived 4.5 hours early for our flight. This is entirely due to us taking the ferry over: always take an earlier ferry, just in case.
I’m traveling with 3 other smart women, so that’s why my pronoun might occasionally switch.
I’m about to board my first plane: one to London, then the second to Madrid. I’m going to nest in and have a cozy overnight flight. I have a Chatelaine magazine to read and Melatonin. Good night.
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I’ve had some extraordinary tea this afternoon. Not that it was exceptional out of its little pouch and dipped in water. It was only Earl Grey. But it was so lovely drinking it and now I’m happytimes. What I really want now is an English muffin with bacon, *and that’s all*. I’ve been thinking about it all afternoon. I also have to remember to phone in my prescription for pick-up , which I will do at Thrifty’s and at the same time I will purchase corn chips that I can eat with the guacamole I will make with the almost-too-ripe avocado I have on the counter. Mmm. Food. I must be hungry or something, like, right now.
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I’ve been reminiscing about the past lately. Not in a pathetic wish-I-was-still-there way (not this time, anyway) just thinking about it. Perhaps encouraged by Kimberly, who had a facebook update about past Septembers and the beginnings of school. It got me to realizing that ten years ago I was getting ready for my fourth year of university. A few years ago I was a little annoyed and freaked out that it was going to be ten years since I got my degree. Not I’m not too bothered by it. Maybe I’m a little agrivated that it will be a decade since I started at Camosun (I liked my time there a lot). There is no theme to my agrivation. No reason. I had no goals when I started these educational projects: just to finish. I never expected to be able to support myself as a writer, especially when I realized how much work I would have to put in to do so. And even then: no promises. Same thing with art. I just like doing these things. I’m glad I have the credentials I do, and whether I’m using them or not, I’m pleased with my accomplishments and where I’ve come since then. But then, i don’t feel I’m entirely done, either. I’m pretty ok being settled and having a job and everything. Money is great. I enjoy that there is still potential for more- education, not money. I don’t see myself making more money than I’m making now. It would be nice if I could make the money I make now and also do something that is arty, but I’m good for now.
The past. The years 2005 through 2007 are muddled in my head. Maybe because somewhere in here I entered the non-school years, so there’s nothing concrete for me to attach dates to. I guess I was working at a school for some of it, but apparently this doesn’t count (as it doesn’t help me remember dates.)
Meh.
My parents are in town for the weekend. They picked me up today at 3 and I got home at 10:30 ish, drunk and full of Greek food.
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Today was Hot Dog day at work! I had a hot dog and a pop and chips! The pop was Fanta!
There was still poo at the bus stop this morning. It’s disintigrating or melting or something. I don’t know the life cycle of poo. It is sitting just outside of the the bus-waiting hut so I hung out inside the hut with the chatty ladies. One of the chatty ladies shoved-a-bum so that I could sit on the bench. She did not, however, engage me in chat, and that was OK. I just wanted there to be some division between me and the poo.
I’ve just made apple crisp. I’ll call it apple “crisp” because that sounds more appealing and gourmet than what it really is, which is apple oatmeal. “Crisp” makes it sound like something one might have for dessert at dinner time, or in the evening. As it is evening now, I should be having a dessert, not breakfast. But oh my good ness. I have added cinnamon and raisins and it looks so tasty. I will add vanilla soy milk it shall be enjoyable. I’m letting it cool because I don’t like hot hot oatmeal. When I make it in the mornings (which is the proper time for oatmeal and when I usually eat it) I let it cool a great deal before eating it. Warmish, maybe even cool depending on how long it has sat and how much milk I add. I have to eat it with a small spoon or else I dribble down my chin and that’s not something grownups should do. I seem to have a lot of rules when it comes to oatmeal. They’re more just habits– I happen to know the best way to eat oatmeal. And that’s all there is to it.
The apple in my apple crisp is from my dad’s tree.
Last week I made real crisp out of rhubarb and apples from my dad’s garden. It was real crisp: I consulted a recipe that was labeled “some sort of crisp” and Baked said crisp in the Oven. It was even actually crispy on top. I had to buy some coolwhip for the top. Mmm. Summertime.
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I’ve been eating so much lately. For most of last week it was Subway sandwiches, but then I decided I would soon run out of money if I ate those with such frequency. (Grammar there?) I’ve been abundant in the lunch-making. Two weeks ago: baked spaghetti. Last week: cheesy tuna cass. This week: stir fry. And I have remaining portions of the first two enough to feed me for all of the week coming up. I’m dbating, though, supplementing that pile with something new. Last week I was practical, too, prepping ham goo for sandwiches I could make and eat in the space of time between work and dance. I’m not sure if this run will last. My fridge is becoming empty. Thought what I like about making my lunches for the week ahead of time is that I don’t have to think about what I’m going to eat during the week. And having food ready for myself for after work was nice too, not having to groan and figure it out when I got home to a fridge full of miscellaneous ingredients and a freezer full of frozen things. I like best when I have a pot full of taco goo to slop into burritos. I have to make more of those.
Last night I couldn’t decide whether I wanted pancakes for dinner or leftover steak fried up and eaten with pasta. So I had both. I didn’t finish all the pancakes though so I musn’t have been as hungry as I thought. Last Saturday morning when I had a little bit of a hangover I had tacos and fried eggs. It’s these multi-dish meals that make me say that I’m eating a lot. It’s winter I guess and I need the extra energy to keep warm.
i'll try to be better. i promise 