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Published: March 7th 2006
I knew it. I just had to get sick here, didn´t I. The last thing you want to do on a very long, and very expensive I might add, trip is to get sick and mope around for extended periods of time. For about 4 days now I´ve been fighting a cold that seems to be having its way with me. Each morning my nasal cavity has berthed all manner of technocolor substances; no doubt enhanced by the pollution and bacteria inherant in any metropolis. I feel like all surfaces within contact distance are ripe with microbes begging to multiply en utero, said canal being my sinuses. At any rate, I´m doing well. ¨The man¨ can´t bring me down.
Yesterday I played basketball with fellow compatriot and housemate, Tony. Tony´s idendity is shrouded in mystery, being that we have heretofor refered to Tony as Pierre, but whatever they say about roses or whatever is certainly the case here. I don´t know why some people seem to withhold their given marks of identity, for example we´ve also discovered a certain Mark who goes by Vince, a Bill who goes by Mike, et cetera, et cetera. If ever there was a time to start going by some extravagent made up name, that time would be now. Would anyone like to weigh in? How does Señor McGoo sound?
Back to the topic at hand. Basketball was an exercise in humility. I ran up and down a court for nearly 2 hours straight, with nary a break, seemingly trying to adhere to some of the conventions of the game. I was hoping to garner a few points perhaps, or a rebound or two, which I achieved to some extent. I did recieve a lot of ¨good hustles¨, in spanish of course, which in turn translates into the international language as ¨Congradulations on being alive, albeit useless.¨The opposing team was composed of all high school and university level basketball players, who probably all own Hoop Dreams, if you follow. Tony, however, is capable of achieving a zen-like status on the court that I´ve never really seen in person. If only people could be compensated for doing something like this professionally, perhaps in a competetive nature on a scale large enough to allow for broadcasts or public viewings, he´d be in great shape. I would keep his name in mind, but I´m not sure what he´ll go by in the future.
This weekend will hold a trip to Barcelona for me. Some part of me really wants to stay in Madrid, a lot of people are and it would certainly be cheaper. I mulled it over in my head quite a bit, but I think the times there will be fun to be had regardless. There´s a lot to see there, I´m sure, and I´ll relate all of it on Monday or Tuesday.
I´m nearly at the halfway point of my trip and it seems to be flying by at times and dragging at others. Writing helps when I feel like reflecting, but it also reminds me of how long I have been here and how much I have left to do. I need to be practicing and studying more than I am if I want to achieve a modecem of fluency before I leave. There is a minature Scotty in my head telling me that my word banks can´t take much more of this, and with each new puzzle piece added the lexicon seems to contract around my brain like a rubber band. Perhaps flash cards will help? Classics never go out of style.
In closing I´ll say that I have recieved one phone call so far, which went to my voicemail for some odd reason. If you do try and call me and can´t get through please email me and let me know the time etc. so that I can figure out whats going wrong. I´m waiting patiently for an international phone card I bought online to come through, but I´m getting frustrated at the length its taking to recieve it. Until then though, any calls would certainly be nice.
Adios!
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Bellhorn
non-member comment
Spanish phone service sucks
I tried your number again, and the same rude lady refused to speak English to me! I called around 5pm, which would be 11pm your time I believe. Perhaps you were in bed already, out drinking, or perhaps even studying!!!!!! Well I hope your feeling better. Just a little update from Evolved, Lock-on Gold went into manufacturing yesterday and I am submitting a bowling title to Sony for PS2. The bowling game is quite good for a budget PS2 title. I bought some of the other bowling titles on Xbox and PS2 and they all sucked. Hopefully Sony approves it. I just finished putting together ALL THE PAPER WORK for submission; what fun. Later