far too much writing, far too many photos

runswithscissors


Wednesday, April 28, 2004

Well. Five days later. Told you entries would be spotty.

The friend who's been staying here, Y., is someone I've known online for several years (part of a community that used to be highly active in mighty entertaining ways). A runner, serious enough to have taken part in numerous marathons. A couple of years back, during his third Berlin marathon, I floated the idea of coming to Madrid for the annual 26.2 mile self-torture-fest, offering use of the guest room here at casa runswithscissors. He seemed to like the sound of it, we went back and forth without coming to anything firm, left it as an idea for some future time.

Within these months since the turn of the year the idea came up again, this time gaining momentum, gradually becoming an actual event skidding toward us, becoming more real with each passing week. Until we finally began talking details. The Madrid Marathon is run on a Sunday, I assumed that would mean having a houseguest for a long weekend. A few weeks back, I received a note from Y. saying he'd booked his flights, he'd be here for a week. Anyone in the room with me when I read that would have heard an audible gulp. This is a small place, guest arrangements work well for three or four days. After that it becomes more of a challenge.

I suggested Y. stay here for four nights then spend the rest at a residencia or pensión, an idea he was open to. I began the search for alternative accommodations, striking out all the way around, until I asked my next-door neighbor, Esperanza -- a woman who runs a residencia for students -- if she might have a bed available for that night, for a friend somewhat older than her normal clientele. She apparently has room for four guests, three of the beds were booked by a group of three young French women, leaving one available. At wildly reasonable rates. I took it, let Y. know everything was set, joy abounded.

Last Thursday night: an hour before I headed out to the airport to greet Y. and drag him back here, my doorbell rang. I opened it to find Esperanza, informing me that the group of three French students had somehow become four French students. Meaning no room at the next-door inn for Y.

So I've had a houseguest for most of this last week. Which has been surprisingly fine. The 3-D version of Y has turned out to be a genuinely good guy -- smart, with a good sense of humor. A bit shy at times, a bit quiet, with a trace of underlying steel that surfaces at certain fleeting moments.

Y., wandering around Madrid, shaved head and all:




Madrid, te quiero.

rws 6:04 AM [+]

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BLATHERINGS

August 2001
September 2001
October 2001
November 2001
December 2001
January 2002
February 2002
March 2002
April 2002
May 2002
June 2002
July 2002
August 2002
September 2002
October 2002
November 2002
December 2002
January 2003
February 2003
March 2003
April 2003
May 2003
June 2003
July 2003
August 2003
September 2003
October 2003
November 2003
December 2003
January 2004
February 2004
March 2004
April 2004
May 2004
June 2004
July 2004
August 2004
September 2004
October 2004
November 2004
December 2004
January 2005
February 2005
March 2005
April 2005
May 2005
June 2005
July 2005
August 2005
September 2005
October 2005
November 2005
December 2005
January 2006
February 2006
March 2006
April 2006
May 2006
June 2006
July 2006
August 2006
September 2006
October 2006
November 2006
December 2006
January 2007
February 2007
March 2007
April 2007
May 2007
June 2007
July 2007
August 2007
September 2007
October 2007
November 2007
December 2007
January 2008
February 2008
March 2008
April 2008
May 2008
June 2008
July 2008
August 2008
September 2008
October 2008
November 2008
December 2008
January 2009
February 2009
March 2009
April 2009
June 2009
July 2009

.  .  .  .  .  .  .  .


MORE FOCUSED BLATHERINGS


Travels:
London '01
Pamplona
Italy '03
U.K. '03
Sevilla
Casablanca
Stoke-on-Trent
Barcelona
Québec/Ottawa
Boston/Lisbon/Madrid
Italy '04
Montréal
La Sierra

Events:
Madrid -- arrival
9/11
Emergency Room I
Holidays 2001
Holidays 2002
Holidays 2003
Holidays 2004
Holidays 2005
A neighbor's passing
Madrid -- March 11 bombings
  and aftermath
Emergency Room II
Israeli friend/Madrid Marathon
Madrid -- Royal Wedding
The DELE exam

GONE, a novel:
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10

THE BASTARD CHILDREN OF
JOE ROCCO, a novella:
-- Part 1
-- Part 2
-- Part 3

BURBANK SHRUGGED,
a screenplay:
-- Part 1
-- Part 2
-- Part 3
-- Part 4

Short stories:
Murphy's Wife
Another Autumn
La Queja de Una
  Hermanastra Muy Conocida

Autobiography
-- Personal History
-- Hormones On Parade
-- Accidents, Random Mishaps,
    Personal Problems

.  .  .  .  .  .  .  .


OTHER SOURCES OF WHOLESOME ENTERTAINMENT

People/Weblogs:
dooce
foxvox
fudge it
fear not
rebekka
bookslut
802online
idle words
madhaiku
wockerjabby
grow-a-brain
rebel market
letting me be
out and about
kung fu grippe
fanatical apathy
baghdad burning
wfuv's music blog
kexp's music blog
mimi smartypants
between the miles
just a hippie gypsy
the impossible cool
tomato can brushes
vermont homestead
sugar mountain farm

Good Clean Fun:
gizmodo
futurismic
postsecret
dave barry
human clock
mcsweeney's
spaceweather
book-a-minute
internet archive
self-portrait day
my cat hates you
out of context quotes
surrealist compliment
  generator
strindberg and helium

Makin' Musical Whoopee:
last fm
stereo8
pandora
soma fm

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ABOUT RWS/CONTACT





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