far too much writing, far too many photos

runswithscissors


Saturday, April 05, 2008

These last few days have brought springtime to Madrid, the genuine item. Four or five days in a row of temperatures drifting up into the ‘70's, sunlight flooding the barrio's narrow streets. A long enough stretch that cold weather coats have all disappeared, apart from those worn by some older folks during the hours of morning chill. Around midday, the bars scattered around the plaza down the street from here set up row upon row of tables and chairs, the space filling up with people, the air filling with the murmur of many voices. The crowds remain through the afternoon, the evening and long into the early hours, until the table and chairs disappear and the soundtrack changes from conversation to sloppier, alcohol-fueled verbiage, more erratic as groups, waves of people pass through periodically, everything quieting down around 7 a.m.

It's a cycle I've lived with (and written about ad nauseum) for a long time now, and during the course of these last few months I've had the growing feeling that it may be time to make a change. I've been at this point before, or thought I was, but was not ready to let go of being here, could not make the move. Looks like it's for real this time around.

I've spent these last few weeks pondering that, prodded by the unrest you're now far too familiar with if you've waded through this journal's recent entries. Last weekend it felt like a decision had to be made -- the end of the month loomed, 30 days notice had to be given, as sweet as the weather has become, the prospect of living with the warm weather version of this barrio's nightlife did not bring much joy. Monday evening, I called the landlords to give notice. A couple I've known now since the summer of 2001. Her English, him American, both living here since the '70's. Good people, good landlords. Friends, even, for a while.

(What happened re: the "for a while" part of that last bit is a story for another day.)

Long story short: I made the move. Gave notice, will be out of this piso on the last day of April and back in northern Vermont on May 1. Will then begin the process of emptying out the house -- what that will mean re: the options of selling things, giving things away, dumping things and/or putting things in storage, I don't yet know -- and putting it on the market. Where I go from there, I have no idea. At least not yet. Like most humans, I tend to figure things out as I go along. No reason this should be any different. Right now, it feels like I'm getting ready to toss myself into the void. Or at least back onto a plane and off to points not yet known. Applications are now being accepted for the dubious experience joyous adventure of taking in a pointy-booted stray with an adorable bum for a short, medium or long-term stay.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Above la Plaza de los Cubos, Madrid:




España, te quiero

rws 1:36 PM [+]

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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
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April 2003
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December 2003
January 2004
February 2004
March 2004
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August 2004
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November 2004
December 2004
January 2005
February 2005
March 2005
April 2005
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August 2005
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October 2005
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January 2006
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November 2006
December 2006
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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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