My daughter is disturbed because I went to bed with three cuttlefish.
I am disturbed that they didn't defrost.
If you recall that bursitis thing, I have to ice it now and then, and you know, ice is so boring once it's melted; so the man went around the our seven-eleven, and picked up some frozen cuttlefish and peas.
I was a wee bit tired after the sleep-over party last night and the subsequent clean up - read destroyed - so icing my hip while sleeping seemed like an excellent idea. I got myself all laid out, ice balanced and napped for a lovely long time.
Later when I came to make the paella for dinner I was surprised to discover that the sepia was still cold like a rock.
What does that say about me????
Saturday, February 9, 2008
Friday, February 8, 2008
Two things....
Almond blossoms, near town....
I don't think I've mentioned it, but I have been hobbling around lately. Yesterday I stopped hobbling and started staggering around like a little old lady after a long ride on a scooter.
My hip hurts.
Going uphill, and sometimes down hill, and now, as of yesterday, when I go upstairs too.
I went to the medical center today.
Bursitis.
It sounds positively medieval. I now have a little regime of pills to take every day, and instructions not to overdo it. That probably excludes the walks in the mountain I take most days.
Poop.
However, this isn't serious, rest, ice - oh that's funny too, we don't have a fridge, so obviously not a freezer either...now everyday we will have to go round to my local corner store and decide if we will have squid, or snails, or octopus, or mussels for dinner. I will kindly defrost them on my hip, and then we're paella bound!
If all this fails, they'll inject some wonder drug into the depths of my hip an prest-o bang-0 all should be well, forever!
The second thing? Eldest is having her sleepover birthday party tonight. Should be long, loud and tiring....though it turns out that four of the girls can't come, so there will only be 9 people here.
Not so bad.
Oh..sorry there's a third.
Youngest came home from school today, "Mommy, I had to draw you in class today. You know? You're really hard to draw."
Then brightening, "It turned out really well; though I didn't get all the wrinkles in."
HA!
Thursday, February 7, 2008
Dental...oh my what a drag...
I finally *blush* made an appointment with a dentist here. You see I am having so much fun with the bureaucracy here, I thought I would improve things and get some dental work done too! It is such a relief after some of the other hurdles we are trying to leap.
You see, as an expat, these things take on a different set of problems. On the boat, we had a choice: dubious but cheap dental care in the islands, or probably good but ghastly expensive dental care in Toronto...I generally went for the latter, but the kids got the lion's share of it, cause that's just the way it was.
I knew I needed to get some more work done here, but it is tricky. Most of the local dentists were trained in South America, and speak no Catalan, leaving me incommunicado....and they are very expensive. There is another dentist, who has been recommended, but his office is ummmm, dingy, and the state of the teeth of those recommending him didn't do him a lot of credit. He seemed to favour pulling teeth as a solution to most problems.
I mean this in the nicest possible way, but the state of peoples teeth here is pretty awful; some horrifyingly so.
A new dentist opened up in town, and I went into see her today; after admittedly putting it off for quite a while out of sheer shudder factor. She had a new clean open office, and a Catalan name so there was some hope I would understand her.
I went in to ask about prices.
Very reasonable, mostly because she is just starting out I would say, and hasn't many clients, so is keeping the price low to get bodies in the door. She is young and friendly, I can communicate with her, she tells me they don't use the amalgam, only the white enamel stuff...no more mercury!!! The kids should like her, as much as anyone likes a dentist. My only worry is that she looks like the ink hasn't dried on her diploma yet.
What to do, an up to date well-trained (can I ask her what her grades were?) dentist who I can talk to, or someone who looks dubious, has patients with horrendous teeth and I can kind of talk to, or a herd of folks with dubious training, patients with horrendous teeth, more experience, and I cannot talk to them at all.
Such a simple choice.
I figure she's better than no dentist, and did make an appointment for the three of us, the Man to follow....and I can talk to her, which is comforting.
One telling thing about the state of dental hygiene in this chocolate-at-three-to-four-meals-a-day-for-most-children country...
When she asked the age of my kids, 12 and 9, she then asked if they had ever been to the dentist; and was delighted that they had! She then asked when the last visit was. I admitted, with a shame filled face, that it was over a year ago. She was delighted! Unlike the usual scolding you get in Canada if it has been more than 6months and a day. I always feel like they are debating calling Children's Aid. No wonder I hesitate before going to the dentist. Not only is it a drag in and of itself, but they make me feel so bad and nasty; incompetent and negligent.
Here she was delighted, and felt that more than a year between appointments was just fine!
I'll let you know what happens. Though in my experience it is hard to tell if a dentist is good or not for at least a year afterwards.....
You see, as an expat, these things take on a different set of problems. On the boat, we had a choice: dubious but cheap dental care in the islands, or probably good but ghastly expensive dental care in Toronto...I generally went for the latter, but the kids got the lion's share of it, cause that's just the way it was.
I knew I needed to get some more work done here, but it is tricky. Most of the local dentists were trained in South America, and speak no Catalan, leaving me incommunicado....and they are very expensive. There is another dentist, who has been recommended, but his office is ummmm, dingy, and the state of the teeth of those recommending him didn't do him a lot of credit. He seemed to favour pulling teeth as a solution to most problems.
I mean this in the nicest possible way, but the state of peoples teeth here is pretty awful; some horrifyingly so.
A new dentist opened up in town, and I went into see her today; after admittedly putting it off for quite a while out of sheer shudder factor. She had a new clean open office, and a Catalan name so there was some hope I would understand her.
I went in to ask about prices.
Very reasonable, mostly because she is just starting out I would say, and hasn't many clients, so is keeping the price low to get bodies in the door. She is young and friendly, I can communicate with her, she tells me they don't use the amalgam, only the white enamel stuff...no more mercury!!! The kids should like her, as much as anyone likes a dentist. My only worry is that she looks like the ink hasn't dried on her diploma yet.
What to do, an up to date well-trained (can I ask her what her grades were?) dentist who I can talk to, or someone who looks dubious, has patients with horrendous teeth and I can kind of talk to, or a herd of folks with dubious training, patients with horrendous teeth, more experience, and I cannot talk to them at all.
Such a simple choice.
I figure she's better than no dentist, and did make an appointment for the three of us, the Man to follow....and I can talk to her, which is comforting.
One telling thing about the state of dental hygiene in this chocolate-at-three-to-four-meals-a-day-for-most-children country...
When she asked the age of my kids, 12 and 9, she then asked if they had ever been to the dentist; and was delighted that they had! She then asked when the last visit was. I admitted, with a shame filled face, that it was over a year ago. She was delighted! Unlike the usual scolding you get in Canada if it has been more than 6months and a day. I always feel like they are debating calling Children's Aid. No wonder I hesitate before going to the dentist. Not only is it a drag in and of itself, but they make me feel so bad and nasty; incompetent and negligent.
Here she was delighted, and felt that more than a year between appointments was just fine!
I'll let you know what happens. Though in my experience it is hard to tell if a dentist is good or not for at least a year afterwards.....
Wednesday, February 6, 2008
A room with a view...
Lulu from Lulu's Bay in Cairo is posting a picture of what she can see out of her kitchen window...seems like fun to me, so here's the view...we have an entertaining time comparing the various undergarments on the line....
So in this first earth-shakingly fascinating photo we have the view of my little porch of the back of my kitchen, which doesn't have a window, but rather a door, which most of the time I love...you can see my pot of herbs out the back there...
also my neighbours laundry, which I may have mentioned is something of a conversational fall back around here. If you look closely there are I believe at least two thongs out there, clipped in with some boxers...
This second photo is a clearer view of the laundry, plus water tanks, a touch of sky, and if you only knew, through the bushes on the left is a real live ancient year old castle, complete with an obnoxious royal type. I have nothing against monarchy per say, but ours does seem to be a jerk.
This final shot is looking down into the outdoor area of the people below us, one of the guys is a gardener. They used to have a most impressive growth of 'weed' if you catch my meaning, but have become more conventional at this point.
So there it is.
The view from my kitchen.
If you would like to, feel free to join it...it has all the joy of being a peeping Tom with none of the guilt.
So in this first earth-shakingly fascinating photo we have the view of my little porch of the back of my kitchen, which doesn't have a window, but rather a door, which most of the time I love...you can see my pot of herbs out the back there...
also my neighbours laundry, which I may have mentioned is something of a conversational fall back around here. If you look closely there are I believe at least two thongs out there, clipped in with some boxers...
This second photo is a clearer view of the laundry, plus water tanks, a touch of sky, and if you only knew, through the bushes on the left is a real live ancient year old castle, complete with an obnoxious royal type. I have nothing against monarchy per say, but ours does seem to be a jerk.
This final shot is looking down into the outdoor area of the people below us, one of the guys is a gardener. They used to have a most impressive growth of 'weed' if you catch my meaning, but have become more conventional at this point.
So there it is.
The view from my kitchen.
If you would like to, feel free to join it...it has all the joy of being a peeping Tom with none of the guilt.
Tuesday, February 5, 2008
I was nasty today, very politely.
One thing that alarms me is the idea of identity theft. Been there, had that done to me, never got a d*mn t-shirt.
I find it more alarming when it involves my kids.
That's why I was nasty today. Very politely.
Ya see....we have to get official papers translated to get through the red splattered streams of bureaucracy we are being bombarded by. For a translation one must, of course, hand over papers like birth certificates and marriage certificates to complete strangers who are not government employees.
Granted, these were copies, but nonetheless....
When, after four weeks, sending it twice, phoning once and e-mailing twice more, I still hadn't gotten any sort of response, let alone a quote, I began to wonder if they were running a counterfeit passport gig, a translation office, eh...great front, no? And you know it seems to me that a Canadian passport would be a valuable kind of document, and between the birth certificates and the marriage certificates it seemed quite enough info to cook something up.
I got ticked.
Today.
I have been kind of riding side saddle on rage today, all ready to hop off and rope someone....
This company got roped.
I was very nice. Aren't I always?
*gag*
Such hypocrisy we must display sometimes as adults.
Anyway, I was very nice, and in a very nice tone of voice, when they suggested I send the info again, I informed them that I had no confidence in their company and if I did not receive a response by phone or e-mail within 24 hours, I would be phoning both my consulate and the police, accusing them of soliciting information for fraudulent purposes.
Remember, the police here were trained by Franco.
They called.
I still have to find a different company and start all over again. Such a drag.
I find it more alarming when it involves my kids.
That's why I was nasty today. Very politely.
Ya see....we have to get official papers translated to get through the red splattered streams of bureaucracy we are being bombarded by. For a translation one must, of course, hand over papers like birth certificates and marriage certificates to complete strangers who are not government employees.
Granted, these were copies, but nonetheless....
When, after four weeks, sending it twice, phoning once and e-mailing twice more, I still hadn't gotten any sort of response, let alone a quote, I began to wonder if they were running a counterfeit passport gig, a translation office, eh...great front, no? And you know it seems to me that a Canadian passport would be a valuable kind of document, and between the birth certificates and the marriage certificates it seemed quite enough info to cook something up.
I got ticked.
Today.
I have been kind of riding side saddle on rage today, all ready to hop off and rope someone....
This company got roped.
I was very nice. Aren't I always?
*gag*
Such hypocrisy we must display sometimes as adults.
Anyway, I was very nice, and in a very nice tone of voice, when they suggested I send the info again, I informed them that I had no confidence in their company and if I did not receive a response by phone or e-mail within 24 hours, I would be phoning both my consulate and the police, accusing them of soliciting information for fraudulent purposes.
Remember, the police here were trained by Franco.
They called.
I still have to find a different company and start all over again. Such a drag.
Monday, February 4, 2008
High School!!! OMG
I had, yet another, meeting with Eldest's teacher, poor man. Though he said I could meet with him anytime and reassured me that he wanted me to come to him with any questions or concerns. (Better than nattering with the parents outside.)
This meeting was about next year at the new school. The system here is that after grade six they move into high school.
Parents panic.
I cannot say I am panicking, Eldest is very intelligent, if I do say so myself, and has a strong sense of herself, is confident and very capable. I cannot say it will be smooth or easy, but I am not ultimately too worried. However, I had some concerns when the teacher told me about the curriculum design. All the students study Math, Catalan, Castillian, and English all year. These are mandatory. The students have social science, physical science, art, music and gym; each for two out of the three trimesters. Not great, but manageable because they have two optional credits so they can do more of a subject they like.
This is all OK...
But.... he said that they have to use their optional credits for subjects that are difficult for them. For Eldest, that would be Catalan and Castillian.
Her schedule for next year could consist of two Catalan, two Castillian, Math and English, the part time extras and no optionals.
Not a happy set-up. A little narrow, no? Training for a polyglot with nothing inside to say.
SO
I wanted to see if we could drop English, have her sit an exam, get a grade and use that time for extra studies in Catalan and Castillian and have both of her optionals for a wider education. I would rather she wasn't doomed to a horrifically boring and narrow education from the start.
The teacher - who is fantastic - said he doubts there will be any problem at all with that plan...even if the school chooses not to mention it to the inspector...
He also said, interestingly, that the principal and the head of studies are both young, and therefore open, creative and reasonable. He actually said that the older teachers are a problem. They came in as Francoists, and it is still reflected in their attitudes and behaviour; seems once a tyrant, always a tyrant. There are still some of those teachers there, whom Eldest will simply have to put up with, but the department heads are more open.
The challenges never end.
My other goal for the meeting was also achieved, he said that he arrange for her to get more help with Castillian this year.
N.B. This just failed Catalan speaker conducted the entire meeting, relatively easily, in Catalan.
So there.
This meeting was about next year at the new school. The system here is that after grade six they move into high school.
Parents panic.
I cannot say I am panicking, Eldest is very intelligent, if I do say so myself, and has a strong sense of herself, is confident and very capable. I cannot say it will be smooth or easy, but I am not ultimately too worried. However, I had some concerns when the teacher told me about the curriculum design. All the students study Math, Catalan, Castillian, and English all year. These are mandatory. The students have social science, physical science, art, music and gym; each for two out of the three trimesters. Not great, but manageable because they have two optional credits so they can do more of a subject they like.
This is all OK...
But.... he said that they have to use their optional credits for subjects that are difficult for them. For Eldest, that would be Catalan and Castillian.
Her schedule for next year could consist of two Catalan, two Castillian, Math and English, the part time extras and no optionals.
Not a happy set-up. A little narrow, no? Training for a polyglot with nothing inside to say.
SO
I wanted to see if we could drop English, have her sit an exam, get a grade and use that time for extra studies in Catalan and Castillian and have both of her optionals for a wider education. I would rather she wasn't doomed to a horrifically boring and narrow education from the start.
The teacher - who is fantastic - said he doubts there will be any problem at all with that plan...even if the school chooses not to mention it to the inspector...
He also said, interestingly, that the principal and the head of studies are both young, and therefore open, creative and reasonable. He actually said that the older teachers are a problem. They came in as Francoists, and it is still reflected in their attitudes and behaviour; seems once a tyrant, always a tyrant. There are still some of those teachers there, whom Eldest will simply have to put up with, but the department heads are more open.
The challenges never end.
My other goal for the meeting was also achieved, he said that he arrange for her to get more help with Castillian this year.
N.B. This just failed Catalan speaker conducted the entire meeting, relatively easily, in Catalan.
So there.
Sunday, February 3, 2008
Fooooood!!
Look what we had for lunch today...
We visited a couple of local museums, and on the way back we went to our local 7/11.
It isn't much like the ones at home. The Man got a bottle of Jerez sherry for six Euros. and we debated what else to get. There were several frontrunners: the sepia with peas, the favas in sauce, the roasted rabbit, snails in sofreigit...but in the end we got these...
Those were snails cooked with olive oil and garlic, and we got a little pot of aiolli to dip them in. Aiolli, if you don't know, is garlic and olive oil pounded together until if forms an emulsion. Sort of like unbelievably delicious garlicy mayo...
Then we had these....
These are stuffed squids. Oh my they were good.
Then we started cooking our calçots.
We have a little fireplace in the kitchen, so we started up the coals. You are supposed to cook calçots over a hot flaming fire of olive wood. Hmmm. We went with coals which provided a nice even heat, then fed it continuously with paper while the outside of the calçots burned.
I could only cook six or so at a time so I had to work in batches...as they were completed we wrapped them in newspaper so they could steam and soften a bit more.
You eat them with a romesco sauce for calçots, which our neighbour had also made. Oh my goodness, it was delicious.
If you want to read more about this delicious tradition, click here for the last calçotada we went on, a much more greedy and authentic affair, complete with an olive wood fire, which we gathered ourselves.
As a surreal ending to the day, there was a commotion in the street, and like all good nosy folks, I went out on the balcony to see what was up. A guy and a woman were picking up large garbage from next to the bins on our street. That was the noise, then when I looked closely I realised that the guy was sporting a shotgun, or rifle, whatever. He was also blocking the road, so that when our neighbours appeared he started moving his truck around...nearly hitting the neighbour. Armed bumper cars for goodness sakes. No one seemed the least bit phased by the weaponry.
My question is this: Had he brought the gun with him, and if so why, or was it in the garbage, and if so, who on earth would put it there, and why?
All this is going on to the repeated soundtrack of the Rocky Horror Picture Show, a gift to Youngest which I am beginning to regret.
Off to paint.
Lets do the time warp again!!!!
We visited a couple of local museums, and on the way back we went to our local 7/11.
It isn't much like the ones at home. The Man got a bottle of Jerez sherry for six Euros. and we debated what else to get. There were several frontrunners: the sepia with peas, the favas in sauce, the roasted rabbit, snails in sofreigit...but in the end we got these...
Those were snails cooked with olive oil and garlic, and we got a little pot of aiolli to dip them in. Aiolli, if you don't know, is garlic and olive oil pounded together until if forms an emulsion. Sort of like unbelievably delicious garlicy mayo...
Then we had these....
These are stuffed squids. Oh my they were good.
Then we started cooking our calçots.
We have a little fireplace in the kitchen, so we started up the coals. You are supposed to cook calçots over a hot flaming fire of olive wood. Hmmm. We went with coals which provided a nice even heat, then fed it continuously with paper while the outside of the calçots burned.
I could only cook six or so at a time so I had to work in batches...as they were completed we wrapped them in newspaper so they could steam and soften a bit more.
You eat them with a romesco sauce for calçots, which our neighbour had also made. Oh my goodness, it was delicious.
If you want to read more about this delicious tradition, click here for the last calçotada we went on, a much more greedy and authentic affair, complete with an olive wood fire, which we gathered ourselves.
As a surreal ending to the day, there was a commotion in the street, and like all good nosy folks, I went out on the balcony to see what was up. A guy and a woman were picking up large garbage from next to the bins on our street. That was the noise, then when I looked closely I realised that the guy was sporting a shotgun, or rifle, whatever. He was also blocking the road, so that when our neighbours appeared he started moving his truck around...nearly hitting the neighbour. Armed bumper cars for goodness sakes. No one seemed the least bit phased by the weaponry.
My question is this: Had he brought the gun with him, and if so why, or was it in the garbage, and if so, who on earth would put it there, and why?
All this is going on to the repeated soundtrack of the Rocky Horror Picture Show, a gift to Youngest which I am beginning to regret.
Off to paint.
Lets do the time warp again!!!!
Meal times
I would just like to point out that both of the girls went to birthday parties last night, both from about 5:30 till 9pm. One was for a group grade threes, the other group is in grade six.
Neither of the children were given dinner.
It was fully assumed that they would eat dinner when they got home, like when we have a party in NA that ends at 4:30 or 5pm.
We're not in Kansas anymore Toto.
Neither of the children were given dinner.
It was fully assumed that they would eat dinner when they got home, like when we have a party in NA that ends at 4:30 or 5pm.
We're not in Kansas anymore Toto.
Saturday, February 2, 2008
BCN and Birthdays.
Oh my goodness me.
Oh my goodness gracious me.
Oh my goodness gracious blessed me.
I am tired.
We went into BCN today to get birthday gifts for three of the kids' friends, who were having parties, plus the Man wanted some pants...Youngest wanted to wear her roller blades, which got heavy about half way through when she got tired of wearing them, along with the wrist pads, knee pads, elbow pads and helmet. Oof.
The girls went off the their parties, the Man and I went out and watched the parade in town...which was pretty cool. One of the nice things about a small town parade is also seeing all the people you know. About half of the kids I teach were there for instance. It is 10:20 and the band in the plaça is just starting up again....not a quiet night.
It is also funny hearing all the Spanish remixes of English songs, we heard "achey-breaky heart" in Spanish...and there is a woman singing "It's fun to stay at the YMCA" slower and with a kind of romantic tone. Very odd. I don't want to go there.
I also got a jacket for myself....
I love it...it is fuzzy-furry on the outside like a plush stuffed toy...I am now the world's largest, and bony-est, ambulating gund. It also has lots of big pockets tucked neatly in the right places, and is cut slim so I don't look like the Michelin man! Woo hoo....
So cozy.
What's the last thing you bought for yourself? Hope it was something good.
OH! You know what else? Our neighbour, bless his darling Catalan soul, gave us 12 CALCOTS!!!! And the handy-dandy ever-yummy dipping sauce! We'll be cooking that up in our little in kitchen fireplace grill tomorrow!
I'll post pics.
Oh my goodness gracious me.
Oh my goodness gracious blessed me.
I am tired.
We went into BCN today to get birthday gifts for three of the kids' friends, who were having parties, plus the Man wanted some pants...Youngest wanted to wear her roller blades, which got heavy about half way through when she got tired of wearing them, along with the wrist pads, knee pads, elbow pads and helmet. Oof.
The girls went off the their parties, the Man and I went out and watched the parade in town...which was pretty cool. One of the nice things about a small town parade is also seeing all the people you know. About half of the kids I teach were there for instance. It is 10:20 and the band in the plaça is just starting up again....not a quiet night.
It is also funny hearing all the Spanish remixes of English songs, we heard "achey-breaky heart" in Spanish...and there is a woman singing "It's fun to stay at the YMCA" slower and with a kind of romantic tone. Very odd. I don't want to go there.
I also got a jacket for myself....
I love it...it is fuzzy-furry on the outside like a plush stuffed toy...I am now the world's largest, and bony-est, ambulating gund. It also has lots of big pockets tucked neatly in the right places, and is cut slim so I don't look like the Michelin man! Woo hoo....
So cozy.
What's the last thing you bought for yourself? Hope it was something good.
OH! You know what else? Our neighbour, bless his darling Catalan soul, gave us 12 CALCOTS!!!! And the handy-dandy ever-yummy dipping sauce! We'll be cooking that up in our little in kitchen fireplace grill tomorrow!
I'll post pics.
Friday, February 1, 2008
Market surprises.
I saw the Pope in the grocery store today. He was sorting the frozen fish while talking on his cell phone.
A Spanish Cardinal came in while I was in the check-out, maybe they had an important clandestine meeting. If so, the screaming cowgirl who was riding grocery carts up and down the isles may have been a spy.
The streets were filled with mosquitoes, snails, bees, mushrooms, rainbows, butterflies, and strangely snowmen and Christmas trees as well!
It is Carnival and so the school had a parade. The theme was the seasons...each grade dressed as a different season related creature or plant. They made the costumes at school, thank goodness.
Here's a few photos...
Some very grim mosquitoes,
Ambulating Christmas trees,
Stunningly swift snails...
Wooohoooooo! Carnival!
A Spanish Cardinal came in while I was in the check-out, maybe they had an important clandestine meeting. If so, the screaming cowgirl who was riding grocery carts up and down the isles may have been a spy.
The streets were filled with mosquitoes, snails, bees, mushrooms, rainbows, butterflies, and strangely snowmen and Christmas trees as well!
It is Carnival and so the school had a parade. The theme was the seasons...each grade dressed as a different season related creature or plant. They made the costumes at school, thank goodness.
Here's a few photos...
Some very grim mosquitoes,
Ambulating Christmas trees,
Stunningly swift snails...
Wooohoooooo! Carnival!
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