Choosing the Fifth......

June 5th in history

1907 Automatic washer and dryer are introduced ^

1912 U.S. Marines invade Cuba, 3nd time v

1966 Cincinnati Red Leo Cardenas hits 4 home runs in a doubleheader ^

1969 Race riot in Hartford Connecticut v

1993 Singer Mariah Carey weds Tommy Mottola, CEO (Sony Music) v

2010 First ever electric concert of FROM LOST TO THE RIVER at Hangar 19, Madrid. ^

It rained bats and frogs last night. We even lost the Internet. It down poured 2x more today. It started out nice, then got really cold and then was hot as balls. Make up your mind! Damn you Mother Nature!

Got home at 23:00. Only 4 hours manana. And it's Bender Tuesday. Hooray!

Sundown Dazzling Day, JG 2011, oil and correction fluid on canvas

I painted a picture for the first time in years. It's the view of Madrid from our terrace at sunset. It was a beautiful 80F day and the title is the first line of King Crimson's Starless. i'm an unending nerd, i know. And i really enjoying painting. Painting that candle holder at Laura's Bday made me realize i missed it.



Dark Days in June 5th History

1967 - 6 day war between Israel and Arab neighbors begin
1968 - Sirhan Sirhan shoots Bobby Kennedy, who dies next day
1984 - Cyndi Lauper's "Time After Time" hits #1

The Mets won. Finally!

It's hot as hell now though. It must be the humidity. Time to shower, eat and then head to bed.

June Looms

Asuka Kurosawa, A Snake of June (2002)


Summertime,
And the livin' is easy
Fish are jumpin'
And the cotton is high




Your daddy's rich
And your mamma's good lookin'
So hush little baby
Don't you cry
-Gershwin

It's been a bit rainy the past few days but it mercifully cooled things off. I just throw an umbrella in my backpack and i have a Columbia light water poof jacket. We did have deluge on Friday that dumped a lot of rain on us, but then it was sunny as soon as it stopped.

Life on the Iberian Peninsula; in the summer storms move in and out very quickly.

No work today! Yeah! i taught one class yesterday before the Champions League Final.

Saw Susanna, Joe, Polly, Laura, Tim, Sarah and a good cast of characters for the game. Good times. Then home on the Metro and then sleeping. Sweet gorgeous sleeping.

I will be 43 at the end of the week. Calendars start with Monday in Europe (freaks!!!!)

It's been a good 43 years. I know what i want to be when i grow up (teacher!)

June 5th in history
1944 1st British gliders touched down on French soil for D-Day
1944 Allies march into Rome
1944 General Eisenhower decides invasion set for June 6

The Best Laid Plans of Mice and Me

Let's tell the future
Let's see how it's been done.
By dreams.
By the features.
By letters.
By dropping hot wax into water.
By nails reflecting the rays of the sun. By walking in a circle.
By red hot iron.
By passages in books.
A balanced hatchet.
-Suzanne Vega

Well, many of you have asked if i'm coming home this summer and i haven't answered, so apologies for that. I had to wait until i had a plan in place.

For the words of the profits were written on the studio wall concert hall
-Rush

I've looked at job opportunities and the USA is slashing the education budget like they were Freddy Kruger. When the Federal Government almost shut down this year, the Republicans proposed cutting all funding for teaching American history (NY TIMES). Can you imagine?!!

So do me a favor and give me the good news first
-Rush

The good news is that i am going to stay in Madrid for another year. I like my flat, my housemate, i have a job, healthcare and friends here.

The bad news is that to save money and keep working, i won't be coming home this summer. I will miss not seeing you all this summer but after coming back 5 times in the last 4 years, well...., i just need to be a bit more frugal.

But there is an upside. We have a guest room. With a second bathroom. So..... any of you who would like to visit are welcome to stay with me. I know that times are hard with the economy sucking ass and that a lot of you have kids, so that you made need to make a choice between bringing your spouse or only one child, but i guess that's what dice were made for.

Roll the bones
-Rush

But seriously, you are all welcome to stay here. Summer, Fall, Winter, Spring; the door she is open.

....As is the future.

Heat Waves and then Gives You the Finger

Artist's rendition

So tired, but still awake. No work Friday night but i work late Mon thru Thurs. Almost done.

It's fucking hot! 29c (85F) today. Hot. Boxers are damp hot. It's going to be a hot summer.

Some like it hot.

Not me. Fuck that.

Work is cool. Things in general are cool, praise Jah!

7.5 hours manana then an easy Friday.

Listening to:
Bowie at the Beeb (live at the BBC 1968-79) - David Bowie
Temple of the Dog - Temple of the Dog
Pack up the Plantation - Tom Petty
Women and Children First - Van Halen

Memo to Fred Wilpon; Shut your trap, you pathetic moron loser. You are being sued because you endorsed him and put the Mets name on one of his funds. You're an idiot. And then you start bashing players. Way to demotivate the team!

PS.

I hope Budd Slugg announces MLB is taking over the Mets. You deserve it. And the Mets will be a better team in a shorter time if he does it. You are an embarrassment.

bender Tuesday part 23

Bender Tuesday!

It's become quite the tradition. I had to teach at the Uni tonight and only arrived at 22:00. People said, "Don't worry, he'll be here," mostly Goran and Carla. We three are the Bender Tuesday Original Trio.

C U Next Tuesday.

The gals came up with that tonight. I was horrified. But impressed just the same.

See you next Tuesday, you filthy whoors!

Father Tiresias

Baby's got the Bends
-Radiohead

Have you ever felt liked your life has been forever? That you've seen so much? But you feel fortunate? You feel fine?

Busy day. Got home at 23:12.

Why do i quote exact times? Must be Mum's efficiency coming through.

I teach at the University manana, so that's a long day. Then Bender Tues!


Take a little trip back with father Tiresias,
Listen to the old one speak of all he has lived through.
I have crossed between the poles,
for me there's no mystery.
Once a man, like the sea I raged,
Once a woman, like the earth I gave.
But there is in fact more earth than sea.
-Genesis

00:25

I have nothing left to contribute to the overall advantage of you all, so i bid you ado.

Nighty night rabbit.

Hasta pronto!

And the Beat Goes On.....

Ha! A Picture is worth 1,000 words (which is why i don't take them - i just cannot compete with them. Larga vida a la palabra escrita (long live the written word!)

All is well. Great weekend. Life has maybe become normal again. These have always been the happiest times of my life.

But there is no normal, really.

No need to run

it has no fear

it's unlike you

it has nothing dear

the scarlet wheel (the scarlet wheel)

goes round and round

-Stick Men

This is unlike i have ever heard before;The Scarlet Wheel: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LjqUylpsQKc .

Legendary stuff.

15:50

Off to meet Laura and watch Tottenham Hotspurs lock down a spot in the Europa League next season. It's the last day of football.

It's 81F today. Maybe 86F by Martes (Tues.)Heres come Senor Verano (Mr. Summer.)

In the summertime when the weather is high,
You can stretch right up and touch the sky.
When the weather's fine,
You got women, you got women on your mind.
Have a drink, have a drive,
Go out and see what you can find.
_Mungo Jerry

The Martian has landed

Roger the Alien

1:40 DOMINGO

The Martian is in already in bed. We were up til 4:30 last night, watching Rush's Exit Stage Left. He dug it.

I worked and then met him at J&J's for the quiz. We came in 3rd. Respectable.

Today i woke at 12:30, he woke at 14:00. We went to Alcala Fusion, and then he went to watch rugby. I went to teach (ABT = Always Be Teaching.) Then i met him at Finnegans. Then we had spicier than hell curry in Lavapies. Then home. Then we played the card game 31 (after i taught him, i used to play this game every day when i lived with Terry in Jamaica. Maria and i played it a lot last Sept.) Listened to Black Country Communion, Van Morrison, and Yes.

He is my oldest friend on this rock (i think the natives call it Europa). It's been like 2 years since i've seen him. But it doesn't matter. We fall right back into it. Like i saw him last week.

Like it is with all you.

METS METS METS! Reyes saved the game. I am watching tonight. Met up 2 - 0. A chance to go above .500.

2-2. Whoors! Martin homered to left. Nice at bat.

For the record, Tim McCarver sucks ass as an announcer. Same with Joe Buck (Sccchhhhmuck!)

Burnett's on the mound. Granderson is a good player. Great really.

For zee record - i am okay with losing both Reyes and Beltran. If they can sign one, Reyes. Or not. Rebuilding your team; It's a bitch.

2:02

Yeah,.. i am done. So is McCarver, he's made two mistakes already and it's the f*&ing middle of the third. Sweet Baby Jar Jar Binks!!!

Life is a disease: sexually transmitted, and invariably fatal.

Neil Gaiman

The Martian is Landing

(rings doorbell to frat house. Guy opens door)
Hi I wonder if you can help me? I'm not drunk!
-Roger the Alien, American Dad

My good friend, the Martian, who i met all those years ago at the TEFL course, is flying in from Copenhagen manana. He's Irish but he lives in Denmark. I have to work all day, but it'll be good to see him. We have a guest room now so he'll stay by me. Danny is still in NY til Sunday.

I am exhausted. 8 hours tomorrow! How strange for a Friday. It's like i work in a restaurant my sched is so odd. Tuesday is like a day off. Hence, Bender Tuesday. I've know the Martian 4 years.

I am old.

His room is ready. Clean dishes. Print articles for class. Sleep. Sweet intoxicating sleep.

#SpanishRevolution

Ha! That sign is great. From Mel Brooks' History of the World, part 1.

"Nobody expects the Spanish Inquisition!" - Torquemada

Okay, so people are gathering in Puerta del Sol, protesting the upcoming local elections because people are sick of only having a tw party system; the PP (right) and PSOE (left, socialist.) PSOE has held the national presidency

since 2004.

Protests in Madrid:

://thelede.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/05/18/protesters-rally-in-madrid-despite-ban/?scp=1&sq=madrid%20protests&st=cse

I never really understand what they hope to accomplish when they strike here. It's kind of pointless and makes no sense. They want someone to blame for the economy. They forget there is a global recession. Last time i checked you still couldn't make money from thin air.

Bender Tuesday had a big crowd. It was a great time. Bay Side was there. She said she thinks her friend Jenny likes me.

"First we were lovers and now you're pimping me out?" I asked. "...Well, that's kind of awesome."

- - -

I saw that Ashton Kutchner will take over for Charlie Sheen in Two and a half Men. That show is terrible. I guess Kutchner can only make it better. At least he's a respectable actor. I was hoping Sheen would be replaced by someone more embarrassing,... like the freshly dug up corpse of Norman Fell.

EuRoViSiOn

Jedward, Ireland's entry

“You know that it never has been easy

Whether you do or do not resign

Whether you travel the breadth of the extremities

Or stick to some straighter line.

-Joni Mitchell

Prognostication: Okay, after not watching hockey all year, i have seen a bit of the playoffs. So here are my predictions for how it's going to end;

Tampa Bay over Boston in 6, Vancouver over San Jose in 6

Tampa Bay over Vancouver 7 (after a hell of a lot of air miles!) But i'd like to see Vancouver win it all.

Nice weekend. Laura came over for a BBQ (hamburgers with cheddar.) Getting settled. Danny is New York so i am on my own.

Azerbaijan won EuroVision. The party was great. I drew France. They were horrible. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XGfxvasqqVE&feature=related The whole competition is cheese ball. Everyone watches every year. It's like Europe's Super Bowl. Except that it sucks every year.

dark days for Europe

Because of the Economy? Because Spain is broke? Because the EU had to pull Greece's bacon out of the fire? Because the EU just finalized a 78b Euro bailout for Portugal? Because Ireland is leaking like a fiscal sieve? Because several countries are contemplating leaving the Union and getting back their own currency back so that it can devalue and ease domestic financial strife?

Yes. And no. Actually i am talking about EuroVision, the annual cheese ball pop music competition. It's the worst. People just have parties and make fun of it for 3 hours every May.

I once saw an interview with Chuck Barris in one of the extras for Confessions of a Dangerous Mind (PS- i can not recommend this movie highly enough.) Chuck Barris says that a reviewer once called The Gong Show "The beginning of the decline of Western Civilization." In the light of the current popularity of reality television, i agree with said reviewer. But EuroVision is Europe's equivalent. And they've been hastening the decline of Western Civilization since 1955!

I won the quiz last night at J&J's with Brynn and a really cute gal from Illinois. What was her name? And a horrid, unfriendly bitch from Cleveland. Hate in Cleveland! I won like 7E. Our name was The Great Lakes. Brynn is from Liverpool and was bummed the name did not reflect his input. I told him it had nothing to do with me either. "I'm from f@#king New Jersey you a@#hole!" He got over it.

Will my luck continue tonight? We will put all 25 finalist countries in a hat, each throw in some Euros and pick a country. The winner gets the pot. I guess it's like Europe's Super Bowl.

Won't somebody please think of the children!
-Helen Lovejoy, the Simpsons

Deep

Ooh! We're back up. The back end of the site (hee hee, i said back end!) went down yesterday. (Hee hee it went down!) I tried to post yesterday. About something trite, banal and hackneyed, no doubt.

I taught 7 hours today. Woo hoo! Bring it on. I love it.

I miss you all. Seriously. Always. I have known you people the better part of my life.

Okay. Time to watch porn.

Besos!

Earthquake

8 hours manana. Then 7 on Friday. Crazy. Just keep swimming, keep swimming.

“Five days shalt thou labour, as the Bible says. The seventh day is the Lord thy God’s. The sixth day is for football.” - Anthony Burgess

All of Europe is playing week day games to finish up the season. Barcelona won the Spanish Liga tonight. Whoors!

Atletico may well have blown their chance for a spot in Europe last night. They lost to Racing. If they don't finish in the top six, they'll miss out on the Europa League. That would suck. They've played in Europe the past three or 4 years, last year winning the Europa League Trophy (after not making the cut to the knockout round of the Champions League.)

It's getting warmer. 80's past few days. I can't believe it'll be summer soon.

There was an earthquake near Murcia today (southeast on the Med. Sea.) 8 people died! We NEVER have earthquakes in Spain. Mum called cuz she first heard it as Madrid, or it was misreported wherever she heard it. So sad. But i'm fine. It was like 7 hours away from us. First lethal quake since 1969 or something like that.

today in history

Honey don't walk out, I'm too drunk to follow
You know you won't feel this way tomorrow
Well, maybe a little rough around the edges
Or inside a little hollow,
I get faced with some things, sometimes That are so hard to swallow -Tom Petty

Life goes on. That's good i guess. Better than the flip side of that equation.

Lots of classes canceled this week. Things are busy for everyone. So, i will complete putting my room together. Above are some pics of the terrace. It's been great with this nice weather. And our neighborhood is very quiet.

This Day in History:
Listen to some Bob Marley if you get the chance. It's the 30th anniversary of his death; Robert Nesta Marley (6 February 1945 – 11 May 1981).

Friday May 11, 1990 - I take my last exam ever at Fairfield. And just like that, i am a college graduate. 1st ever male with a University degree in my family.

May 11, 2011 - Here is sit.

one thousand posts

Mirador, Rodney Matthews

This seems impossible, but in April the blog hit 1,000 posts (including the old site that began in 2007.) Thanks for reading all of you.

I sent Mum an email for Mother's Day entitled; Thanks for the Mammaries. That women has the patience of a saint.

I'm exhausted. It's a big switch from the weekend to Monday, as it ever was and ever will be. Well, it's Bender Tuesday, so i only have three classes. Tuesday is almost like a day before 3 days of late classes.

Everything else is groovtastic.

Seriously.

All that we learn this time
(what we have been is what we are)
Is carried beyond this life
-Dream Theater

Colors

i see a red door and i want to paint it black
-The Rolling Stones

The Caps slashed and burned and were swept by Tampa Bay. The heartbreak continues. Another devastating playoff exit. Time to ax the coach, Boudreau. Bye bye Bruce.


GREY MATTERS:

Artists with the most consecutive gold or platinum albums;

1. The Beatles
2. The Rolling Stones
3. Rush

When Rush was on The Colbert Report two years ago, Stephen Colbert asked them;

"You are yet to be inducted in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Is there any chance that your next album will be titled That's Bullshit?"

For the record, Kiss is not in the RR HOF either. That's just silly.

Silly i say!

Yes, ELP and King Crimson are not in either. Genesis is in but they had almost two decade of cheese albums to help them get in.

We all had a fantastic time at Laura's Bday party. I painted a candle holder. now are they are going to glaze it. They are going to pick them up on Friday. I'll be working so Laura we snag mine for me. It was a really fun idea. We had cupcakes and beer (strange combo but it works for me) and painted for maybe an hour and a half. Very therapeutic.

When our marriage was disintegrating i painted a lot. It's relaxing, the creative process. It was fun. I'll have to start painting more again.

Happy Day to all you Mothers!

Treinta

Well, I was only a kid, cruising around in a trance
Prisoner of fate, victim of circumstance
I was lined up for glory, but the tickets sold out in advance
The way the big wheel spins
-Rush

Tonight is American Laura's Bday fest as she turns thirty. Holy Crap! She's my oldest friend here. Known her over 4 years. Nuts really. I think we meet at 17:00 for food and drink and then we're going to paint pottery at 20:00. Yes, i said paint pottery. Strange but true. It'll be a blast. All the usual suspects will be there. Heaps of women and Tim, Robert and i sitting back and taking it all in.

We spent a good part of class last night discussing the death OBL. We read an article about all the discrepancies in the initial reports; he used his wife as a human shield, etc. Then we watched this great video from the NY TIMES examining the reaction to OBL's death from a social science point of view. Follow the link, go to the 2nd photo on the left and click of the science of revenge.

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/05/06/health/06revenge.html?_r=1&scp=1&sq=video%20the%20science%20of%20revenge&st=cse

Fascinating stuff, eh?

60F and rainy today. Then sunny and 73F manana. Then we hit the 80's on Lunes. Here comes summer?

GREY MATTER:

Can you name the top three recording artists with the most consecutive gold or platinum albums?

Jueves!

Casi viernes (almost Friday). Taught 8 hours today. 6.5 manana. No wonder i go out on Bender Tuesday. I have late classes Wed., Thurs., Fri. But that's cool. Monday are usually big work days too, but that's fine after the weekend.


All else is well. Weather lovely. But there's a ton of fluffy pollen thingys flying about. I've been okay so far. I feel it, but it's not too bad. I've had to take a bit more allergy meds but not much. It happens every year.

VIERNES

and then i fell asleep. Now i am creating materials for this new beginner class. They have such a low level. The class is a major pain in the huevos (eggs = balls) cuz Celia wants everything in color
for them. So i am using my printer now and then will have to send her stuff ahead of time. It's insane. I'm not set up to do it. Isn't it more about LEARNING than PRESENTATION? Don't ask me. I 'm just a fucking teacher.

Then cash in some change at the bank.

Fuck me! The cartridge is dying. This class is fucking cursed.

______
got new cartridge - doesn't work.

Okay - it helps to take the tape thingy of the contact. I am not a morning person. At all. It;s working. Gracias a dios esta 12:32.

Here we Go....

I just had a gut instinct this would happen. And here we go:

No Pics of OBL Corpse: http://www.nytimes.com/2011/05/05/us/politics/05binladen.html?hp

i am sad to be skeptical (cynical perchance) but my life has taught me that to do so is prudent. Well, i'd rather have my eyes burned by raw daylight than to live with my head up my ass. And that's all i have to say about that.

Thank you and have a pleasant manana.

Obama sees a rise in his approval ratings: http://www.nytimes.com/2011/05/05/us/politics/05poll.html?src=un&feedurl=http%3A%2F%2Fjson8.nytimes.com%2Fpages%2Fpolitics%2Findex.jsonp

Normal Parameters

Everything functioning under normal parameters. Class at two canceled. So class at 15:30, 18:00 and the 20:00. All still manage 20 hours this week, even with the holiday.

68 and beautiful. Oh yeah. You have to worship spring here, before the Endless Summer. Hotter than Satan's Balls.

The Caps lost again. Stick a fork in them. Maybe they can at least avoid a sweep tonight. Maybe.

Barcelona defeated Real Madrid to advance to the Champions League Final. I despise FC Barcelona.

The Mets are back to losing. I take comfort in things i find familiar.

Last Run at the Weekend

23:32

Lisa, if you don't like your job you don't strike. You just go in every day, and do it really half-assed. That's the American way.

Homer Simpson

Ups and downs. That's how life is. But after living in close quarters for so long, to have a place to myself for three days has been awesome.

Such a nice time with the gals last night. Everyone had a good time. The weather was great. I enjoy being a lazy fat ass more than i ever could have imagined.

Back to work manana. 3.5 hours. Light day. And it's Bender Tuesday.

Clean clothes drying. Getting settled. Mind relaxed.

Oh, it's a bad day for the pool boy

Come to clean, and discover you, boy

Face down and feet turning blue, boy

Now you're eyes are closed, you finally have the sight to see

-Liz Phair

Eyeballs closing.

They decide and the shotgun sings the song

After sleeping through the Caps devastating loss on an unforgivably bad line change, i woke up and turned on the Mets. And then i heard Bobby V and Orel Hershiser talking about the fans chanting "USA" and the fact that OBL was dead. Obviously good news.

And a big victory for the Obama Admin. I thought he would never be caught. I thought he may have been dead already. I thought he would fade into the ???? annals of history as some sort of Boogey Man. And DNA testing proved it was him. Last time i checked, that took a bit of time. Seems awfully fast. And then he was buried at sea to keep with the Islam tradition that bodies must be dealt with in under 24 hours. And presumably so that his followers would not have a shrine for a martyr (although it presumably would have been a good place to snag terrorists coming to pay their respects, and also possibly a great place for teenagers to drink beer and pee on.)

My question is this; do we have some photos of the dead body? Where's the proof?

Things have not always occurred as our leaders say they have. Several friends in the military have told me that F16's shot down the plane in PA. One friend actually saw them heading west and he thought, "why west?"

Long have i believed that the W Bush admin new of an attack and allowed it happen. They had too much to gain and i don't believe in coincidences. It took the focus off of Bush rigging the election in FLA. Now we all know that old man Kennedy fixed the election for his son to win because thousands of dead people "voted" in Illinois that year. So call it even, i guess. The GOP stole one after the Dems stole one. I could live with that. I had to.

But are we going to get the absolute proof he is dead? It wouldn't be the first time a president has lied to us. I think they all have.

It could probably be shown by facts and figures that there is no distinctly American criminal class except Congress.
Mark Twain

I'd like to believe it's true. I like Obama. Things aren't great but he inherited one hell of a cluster-fuck from Shrubby (i haven't used that name in so long! It makes me happy).

I hope this brings peace to all the families who have lost members in the Twin Towers, the Pentagon, and United Airlines flight 93, as well as the families of all those who have died in Afghanistan and Iraq (because Saddam's ties to Al Qaeda were the excuse.) I'm just saying we should build our beliefs on the death of public enemy # 1 with caution based on fact. There is a picture that has been shown on Pakistani TV, but is believed to be a fake that has been on the internet since 2009. I actually think i've seen it before.

We'll be fighting in the streets
With our children at our feet
And the morals that they worship will be gone
And the men who spurred us on
Sit in judgment of all wrong
They decide and the shotgun sings the song
- - -

I'll tip my hat to the new constitution
Take a bow for the new revolution
Smile and grin at the change all around
Pick up my guitar and play
Just like yesterday
Then I'll get on my knees and pray
We don't get fooled again
Don't get fooled again

-The Who

Welcome to Me

14:17

Great NY Times article-

The High Cost of Low Teacher's Salaries;

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/05/01/opinion/01eggers.html?_r=1&src=ISMR_HP_LO_MST_FB&pagewanted=print

i guess i am a teacher now. Almost 5 years. Yeah. I should think so. Looks like we're kind of boned.

think of the children!
-Helen Lovejoy, the Simpsons

17:58

A few folks are on their way.

Okay, so a few folks are coming over for House Warming / "D'ohs!" de Mayo. Party. It's sunny and 17C. That's like 63F. I guessed 61. I'm getting good at this. Kevin taught me a math way to at least get an idea, but i always forget it. I think i have a lot of it memorized. 85F = 29.5C. Stuff like that.

Thanks to Mum for helping me navigate this whole mess of the past 4 months. The support is completely appreciated!

But it's over now. I am free of such madness!

Kick Ass!

It's 14:26.

Shower, eat, put some of my crap away. Sit outside with a few friends.

23:21

great time. Mum called around 18:00 and then people started showing up. It was Ashley, Sarah, Amanda, her friend Evona and me. So all chicks and me. Nice party.