Sunday, June 02, 2002
This day had to end at some point! Geez, how did I pack so much into it?
First, I woke up at 9, took my pill and cream. Then at 10 Piliar called me and woke me up -- I had less than an hour to shave, shower, find clothes and call a taxi to go to the church for Alejandro's first communion. So I really picked out a bad outfit. But considering it's all I have for formalwear in Spain, the Fasion Interpol will not issue me a ticket.
So I arrived at the church in time to see ... los comuni�nitos (that's my Spanish word for them) getting into line. I took some photos of Alex looking very much like a young Juan Carlos (the king of Spain), very dapper for a 9 year old. I'd say, and his whole family agrees, he was the most handsome of the whole bunch. That's not to say that all the boys and girls weren't very adorable in their outfits, but he really looked very nice. His parents and siblings were very proud.
I would like to note that two things did not happen once I entered the church:
1. I did not burst into flames like everyone kept telling me (including my parents!) and
2. The Church did not suddenly quake and then tumble to the ground instantly killing everyone except myself, leaving me to walk the earth alone in my shame that I created the 7th sign of the Apocolypse.
Then inside, I'm not sure how to explain this part... things happened. I had to stand the whole time -- I'd say an 45 min-1hr -- which wasn't fun. Plus everyone was pushing each other to see the comuni�nitos. There were lots of rituals that either were unfamiliar, very movie-like (stuff I'd seen on TV), or sorta similar to Judaism that went on. I cannot say that I loved or hated the service. It was a learning experience. I think, when all's said and done, I liked being there. Much to the relief of my parents and the regret of the Balog and Mitchell families I will not be converting from Judaism. Everyone's religion (including my own sometimes) is just too messed up for my tastes. I'll stick with secular Judaism, todah raba. My favorite part was standing in the middle of a throng of people and listen to them all praying at once, saying the same words, in unison, with strong voices. I imagine that's what the voice of G-d is like -- if there was a G-d. Then we all headed outside to mingle and be like every other congregation in humanity.
At M�nica's house... I wish I'd brought a camera. She said 50 people, there must have been 75, 90 or 100! The lunch was 4 courses long and by the second, I was so full. By dessert, I was ready to explode. The breakdown:
Primero: Empanadas (octopus, fish, or unknown)
Segundo: whole crabs, large prawns, crablegs, and lobsters
Tercero: fish (in Spanish it's called merluza, which is hake or whiting -- really good) and salad
Cuarto: beef with oven fried potatoes
But wait! Then for dessert, three kinds of cake in order of size, smallest to large: almond mocha, chocolate, or fruit -- each cake was busting with cream on top and inside!
Then it's coffee time, with so much liquor I thought I was drunk when they opened the bottles (relax, mom, I didn't even have more than a sip of the aguardiente -- it numbed my mouth!) and then Cuban cigars. Now that's what I call a lunch! Goodness!
Afterwards, my medication and the sheer mass of food in my body made me really tired, so Peregrina, the family's longtime nanny/housekeeper who lives with them sat with me and we both fell asleep in our chairs for about 30 mins. I'm now a 90 year old wommon, aparently. Although most people took a small siesta.
Then I played with Diablo -- Alex's communion gift from M�nica -- a mixed German shepard and ... I wanna say, like, a doberman. He's very calm and cute and I fell in love. Shame that he didn't get very much attention. For a 1� month old puppy, he got almost no attention from the kids -- they were all much too interested in the PlayStation2. I suppose, in some ways, that's cool and all, but I dunno. I think puppies are lots more fun than video games. Even if they're sleeping in your lap (which Diablito eventually did -- I was constantly worried that he'd pee on my clothes -- but he didn't.)
That's mostly the sum of the day. I took 63 photos today and enjoyed myself. M�nica's mom gave me so much food to take home, I don't think I'll ever need to worry about feeding the global homeless.
Now Tom and I are waiting for Yas to get her butt online for our threesome (kinky!) online-chat date that we've planned so we can catch up with each other and have fun. I've typed this entire monster-blog up and she's not online yet. I'm sure Tom's not miffed, he's checking his email.
I'm getting started on a collage for Alex's mom of the day with a really cute photo they gave me that was professionally taken for the occasion. I'll post it when it's done.
In the name of the Nur�, in Spain, and the holy Blog: BLOG ON!
First, I woke up at 9, took my pill and cream. Then at 10 Piliar called me and woke me up -- I had less than an hour to shave, shower, find clothes and call a taxi to go to the church for Alejandro's first communion. So I really picked out a bad outfit. But considering it's all I have for formalwear in Spain, the Fasion Interpol will not issue me a ticket.
So I arrived at the church in time to see ... los comuni�nitos (that's my Spanish word for them) getting into line. I took some photos of Alex looking very much like a young Juan Carlos (the king of Spain), very dapper for a 9 year old. I'd say, and his whole family agrees, he was the most handsome of the whole bunch. That's not to say that all the boys and girls weren't very adorable in their outfits, but he really looked very nice. His parents and siblings were very proud.
I would like to note that two things did not happen once I entered the church:
1. I did not burst into flames like everyone kept telling me (including my parents!) and
2. The Church did not suddenly quake and then tumble to the ground instantly killing everyone except myself, leaving me to walk the earth alone in my shame that I created the 7th sign of the Apocolypse.
Then inside, I'm not sure how to explain this part... things happened. I had to stand the whole time -- I'd say an 45 min-1hr -- which wasn't fun. Plus everyone was pushing each other to see the comuni�nitos. There were lots of rituals that either were unfamiliar, very movie-like (stuff I'd seen on TV), or sorta similar to Judaism that went on. I cannot say that I loved or hated the service. It was a learning experience. I think, when all's said and done, I liked being there. Much to the relief of my parents and the regret of the Balog and Mitchell families I will not be converting from Judaism. Everyone's religion (including my own sometimes) is just too messed up for my tastes. I'll stick with secular Judaism, todah raba. My favorite part was standing in the middle of a throng of people and listen to them all praying at once, saying the same words, in unison, with strong voices. I imagine that's what the voice of G-d is like -- if there was a G-d. Then we all headed outside to mingle and be like every other congregation in humanity.
At M�nica's house... I wish I'd brought a camera. She said 50 people, there must have been 75, 90 or 100! The lunch was 4 courses long and by the second, I was so full. By dessert, I was ready to explode. The breakdown:
Primero: Empanadas (octopus, fish, or unknown)
Segundo: whole crabs, large prawns, crablegs, and lobsters
Tercero: fish (in Spanish it's called merluza, which is hake or whiting -- really good) and salad
Cuarto: beef with oven fried potatoes
But wait! Then for dessert, three kinds of cake in order of size, smallest to large: almond mocha, chocolate, or fruit -- each cake was busting with cream on top and inside!
Then it's coffee time, with so much liquor I thought I was drunk when they opened the bottles (relax, mom, I didn't even have more than a sip of the aguardiente -- it numbed my mouth!) and then Cuban cigars. Now that's what I call a lunch! Goodness!
Afterwards, my medication and the sheer mass of food in my body made me really tired, so Peregrina, the family's longtime nanny/housekeeper who lives with them sat with me and we both fell asleep in our chairs for about 30 mins. I'm now a 90 year old wommon, aparently. Although most people took a small siesta.
Then I played with Diablo -- Alex's communion gift from M�nica -- a mixed German shepard and ... I wanna say, like, a doberman. He's very calm and cute and I fell in love. Shame that he didn't get very much attention. For a 1� month old puppy, he got almost no attention from the kids -- they were all much too interested in the PlayStation2. I suppose, in some ways, that's cool and all, but I dunno. I think puppies are lots more fun than video games. Even if they're sleeping in your lap (which Diablito eventually did -- I was constantly worried that he'd pee on my clothes -- but he didn't.)
That's mostly the sum of the day. I took 63 photos today and enjoyed myself. M�nica's mom gave me so much food to take home, I don't think I'll ever need to worry about feeding the global homeless.
Now Tom and I are waiting for Yas to get her butt online for our threesome (kinky!) online-chat date that we've planned so we can catch up with each other and have fun. I've typed this entire monster-blog up and she's not online yet. I'm sure Tom's not miffed, he's checking his email.
I'm getting started on a collage for Alex's mom of the day with a really cute photo they gave me that was professionally taken for the occasion. I'll post it when it's done.
In the name of the Nur�, in Spain, and the holy Blog: BLOG ON!
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