mylifeinspain

1 down, 11 to go

My favorite web link of today: Aretha and that Hat. :-D

A couple friends on Facebook have tagged me to come up with a list of my top 5 favorite albums (or CD/mp3s for the younger crowd). I have been driving Big Jim bonkers this afternoon as I angst on the thousands of possibilities. The only album that is on my list for sure is The Beatles "Revolver" because it is great obviously, but also because track 6, side 1 is the first favorite song I ever remember having---The Yellow Submarine. Not surprisingly, as I have since learned, it was meant to be a children's song. :-) Any suggestions for the remaining four?

Well, after several failed attempts, I have finally managed to post every day for one month. Now I just have eleven more months to go!

hasta pronto,
mylifeinspain

4 years ago: Confinement milestones
3 years ago: No entry.
2 years ago: Keeping warm
1 year ago: No entry.

notes of appreciation

Anyone who has ever heard or read Garrison Keillor knows that those whose lives have crossed paths with the Lutheran church are forever afflicted with the bond of modesty. One cannot speak freely of good fortune, achievements, or successes without being branded a showoff, a big talker, a BRAGGER, and as a result, the high points in one's life are often downplayed or possibly never even mentioned.

Although it has been more than twenty years since I attended St. John's with any sort of regularity, the restraints of constraint remain tightly bound. Which has at times created a struggle for me with the blog, because is not blogging one of today's most overt forms of narcissism?

During the last four and a half years, I have received hundreds of e-mails from readers that I have never met from countries all over the world. I pathetically have probably answered about five. The main reason for this has been a lack of time (sad but true), but I also believe that there is a part of me that finds it difficult to believe that anyone but my parents and a few friends finds this blog remotely interesting. Blame St. John. But do know that if you have sent me an e-mail over the years, I have indeed read it, and most likely it made me smile as you all are very kind readers. :-)

Recently the blog has been noted by two readers in such a generous way that I feel I must at the very least thank them here. One is this best women's blogs of 2008 list (mylifeinspain appears on page 2), and the second is She Takes on the World, a great blog that yesterday bestowed upon mylifeinspain the Lemonade Award, which is for sites that "...show great attitude, or attitude in general. When Life gives you lemons, make lemonade...." Sincerest thank-yous to Fabletoo and Natalie for letting me know someone (besides Mom and Dad) is reading. :-D

And now I've got an award to prove it. But shhh, don't tell toooooo many people because, well, we wouldn't want anyone to think we were anything but unassuming and humble, ok? Thanks!

Have a great weekend, everyone!

hasta pronto,
mylifeinspain

4 years ago: No entry.
3 years ago: No entry.
2 years ago: No entry.
1 year ago: Busted

happy birthday, big jim!!!!

love, 

the wife and fur bundles

4 years ago: Happy birthday, Mr. James!

3 years ago: Costa del Snow!

2 years ago: Happy birthday!

1 year ago: Happy birthday!

cake and more

Big Jim's Chocolate Cake Day cake from yesterday has been hit hard already, but boy it was delicious! Not too sweet---even the icing (clever boy somehow used yogurt, I believe)---and nice, dense chocolate flavor. Normal obnoxious guy habits aside, I feel pretty blessed in the husband department. :-)

Busy with a deadline today, so here are my answers to the latest going around on Facebook: The 10 most unusual things I've done....so far (in no particular order)

1. Spent New Year's Eve at the police station. (The Philly detectives were supernice and offered to share their deli tray, while I looked at stacks of mug shots.)

2. In a rare display of fan love, I Amtrak'd to Baltimore for the "Homicide" set sale after the series finished. Still have Bayliss' Brooks Brothers shirt and Meldrick's purple tie.

3. Watched a mountain shake.

4. Rode a horse in the Himalayas.

5. Worked as a tour guide in a cave.

6. For my "acting" debut played a German girl kidnapped during the French & Indian War. All I had to do was pretend to read a book and then scream when carried off stage.

7. Survived two months of bed rest without going completely mad. Oh, and I had to lie on my stomach the whole time.

8. Visited the Corn Palace.

9. Parked my car in a tree.

10. Stayed at the Savoy Hotel and ate dinner next to Terence Stamp in the hotel restaurant. 

The brave can post their own lists in the comments. :-)

Finally, this customer complaint letter to Virgin's Richard Branson is one of the funniest things I've read in a long time. (Thanks to Big Jim for the link!) 

hasta pronto,

mylifeinspain

4 years ago: The big chill

3 years ago: No entry.

2 years ago: No entry.

1 year ago: Another anniversary

blues

The office suddenly darkened this afternoon, cuing me to race up to the terrace, where I had two lines of laundry hanging (as the forecast was for bright sun). I was greeted by this blue sky:

This is not the blue sky one thinks of when they think the south of Spain, eh? Fortunately, the rains waited until all of my clothes were safely inside. :-)

Happy Chocolate Cake Day!!! (Foto of ours tomorrow---Big Jim has been busy---assuming there is any left!) Make sure you have a slice today (a sure-fire way to beat back any winter blues).

hasta pronto,

mylifeinspain

4 years ago: Fighting the boredom/snow

3 years ago: No entry.

2 years ago: No entry.

1 year ago: No entry.

is the onion the new nostradamus?

Read here, and then check out the date it was originally published.

Freaky or what, eh?

hasta pronto,
mylifeinspain

4 years ago: No entry.
3 years ago: No entry.
2 years ago: Foto Friday
1 year ago: No entry.

vegetarian moussaka

It's another cold and rainy day here by the Costa del SOL, although compared to the north of Spain and southern France, a little damp is something to be grateful for.

But it did seem to be the perfect day to whip up a casserole of veggie moussaka, a recipe from one of my English neighbors (and perhaps the only other non-meat eaters in the village). Here's what you need:

2 Yellow (or red or green) bell peppers, cut into med. chunks

1 Red onion, chopped

2 Medium zucchini, thickly sliced

1 Large eggplant, cut into chunks

Greek yogurt

1 Egg

Olive oil

Feta cheese

Passatta/tinned tomatoes [not puree]

Dried (or fresh) oregano

Black pepper

I preheated the oven on medium flame as I chopped the vegetables. Using a couple tablespoons of olive oil in a large saute pan, I cooked the veggies until they were soft. 

Mix the egg, yogurt (I used one and a half personal serving-sized containers, and crumbled feta (a 2-inch X 3-inch section worked well) in a medium bowl. 

To the cooked vegetables, add the passata or tomatoes, breaking up into chunks if using whole, and about two tablespoons of oregano and a generous few twists of the pepper mill. (No salt is required as there is plenty in the feta. Trust me.) Heat for just a couple more minutes, and then take off the flame.

Transfer the vegetables to an ovenproof dish, and spoon over the top the egg-yogurt-feta mixture. Bake at a medium temperature for 20 to 25 minutes, until the topping is well set. Remove from the oven, and let cool for five minutes before serving. 

Supergood, I tell you. Even Big Jim, the carnivore, was sneaking bits behind my back. :-)

hasta pronto,

mylifeinspain

faffing

A friend tagged me in some meme-thing on Facebook, and I almost forgot to post an entry today, yikes! (Because if you hadn't gathered, I am trying really hard to stick to daily blogging in 2009.) So here is the result of faffing about all evening:

1. As of this coming Thursday, I will have lived in Spain for 7 years
2. Have one husband (James), two dogs (Bayliss Lily and Buster Bubba), and one Shittykitty (who is also called Bode)
3. Have visited four continents
4. And 15 countries
5. But also really love to just stay at home
6. Met my husband at a bar in Brussels (but a very nice bar!)
7. Lost most of the vision in my right eye because of a detached retina 4 years ago; still occasionally walk into door frames
8. Had a dream this week that I was Vladimir Putin's personal assistant, in charge of carrying his new foldup airplane, which he was very proud of. And despite popular opinion, he was a great guy to work for. Fabulous dream actually....
9. Have a bit of a book-buying obsession. But so does James
10. Was stranded in the NWFP of Pakistan during October 2005 earthquake
11. Was rescued three days later by a Pakistani army helicopter
12. Have not had television for 7 years (and don't miss it)
13. Love my Mac
14. And Vietnamese food
15. And good old American diners
16. Once drove from Philly to Virginia just to get a proper pork bar-b-que (back when I still ate meat)
17. Count Richard Russo and Dervla Murphy among my favorite authors
18. Have one tattoo
19. Think pears may be the perfect fruit
20. Although cantaloupe is a close second. Or maybe mango....
21. First car was a 1974 VW Superbeetle
22. Love working from home, NEVER want to return to "The Office"
23. Am a HUGE, like never miss an episode, fan of "The Archers" (a BBC Radio 4 soap)
24. Am allergic to penicillin
25. Know way more celebrity gossip than anyone should. Damn OK! magazines....

If you're brave, you can post your own 25 things in the comments. :-)

hasta pronto,

mylifeinspain

4 years ago: Retina update

3 years ago: No entry.

2 years ago: Secret to a happy marriage #417

1 year ago: No entry.

happy friday

A gorgeous sunset caps a spectacular week. :-) Have a great weekend, everyone!

hasta pronto,
mylifeinspain

4 years ago: No entry.
3 years ago: No entry.
2 years ago: No entry.
1 year ago: The best laid plans....

things are changing indeed

PRESIDENT Obama did more good yesterday than his predecessor did in eight years, AND somehow the Shittykitty has turned into an angel.

hasta pronto,

mylifeinspain