Halloween

Hooray! October will soon be over! Pat Smith turned 45, i was broke as hell and the weather finally felt like Fall.

Do i think the Seahawks can beat the Bengals in Seattle. No. No i don't. But my fantasy team, the Madrid Mayhem, are battling to get to 4-4 with 5 weeks left in the regular season.

The game started at 21:00 instead of 22:00. Ever since W Bush the USA has been a 21st Century Schizoid Man about changing the clocks. Since when does the USA change the first week in Nov.? So, this week i am only 5 hours ahead of you.

Please send me pics of your kids in costume. I love this holiday.

Cincinnati is rolling on their first possession.

CIN 10

SEA 0

3:25 in the 1st Q

The first SEA first down comes from a kicking penalty. Now SEA has something going. And Whitehurst is sacked. Holding Penalty. I may have to switch games. 4th down on the CIN 28. Hauschka will attempt a 47 yd field goal. It's up.... it's good!

CIN 10

SEA 3

But the 'Hawks have to stop Dalton and the Bengals. TJack is warming up on the sidelines. The D is getting meaner. They are best in the NFL against the run. SEA ball, S 35 yd. line.

Lynch fumbles. CIN ball. This is grisly.

And i thought the Seahawks were bad last year. This is twice as bad.

Andy Dalton is very good at scrambling to at least get to throw it away. The Seahawks could have had him. I wished they had drafted him. Neither TJack no Whitehurst is the answer at QB.

TJack is in. Sidney Rice got the 1st down, but they called it short and SEA has challenged.

Ugly game. The Seahawks turn the NFL into 1916 trench warfare. Last week vs. CLE was the ugliest game i've ever seen.

OVERTURNED! SEA 1st and ten. Lynch is stuffed. Loss of 3. You can't run against CIN.

ΑΩ

3rd and inches for CIN and SEA jumps offsides.

2:00 warning.

TD pass CIN.

CIN 17

SEA 3

It doesn't get any uglier than this.

Big catch by Obamanu. Big catch by Baldwin. At the CIN 11. TJack is sacked. Please make it stop.

Seattle goes for it on 4th and 2 on the CIN 4 yd line. Lynch does not get in and the half expires.

Pathetic.

I'm done.

Darkness Falls

12:18

Good-bye Daylight Savings. You trade an hour for 5 months of endless darkness. Who the hell negotiated that deal?!

And the East Coast got whacked by a NorEaster and it's still Oct.! 1.9 million people without power! And Jim Sheirdan's car got hit by another tree!

WTF? What are the odds? Hit by a tree 2x in the span of 3 months. Insane!

8,000 page views for the site. Thanks everyone.

The Halloween Party was fun. I went as Bender.

But Danielle and i forgot that the Moncloa Metro is the at the end of line 2, so the last train left exactly at 1:30. I walked her to Plaza Espana and then walked all the way home. It took about an hour. It was 2.5 miles. So after all the bending and lifting due to helping Laura and Tim move, my legs were sore.

Today is a cleaning and chill out day. I'll mostly recharge for this week. I have 3 hours tomorrow. Tuesday is a holiday (All Saints Day) so all of my business classes for Monday were cancelled. Welcome to the land of endless holidays.

And darkness.

Moving Day (not me)

I fucking hate the St. Louis Cardinals. But they deserve it. I fell asleep during Game 6 in the 9th sure the Rangers had the Series. But alack, my prediction that the Cards would win it cuz they were the hottest team the last two months was right. Damn me!

But it was a crazy and very enjoyable series.



I helped Laura and Tim Move today. The movers didn't know i was coming to help and when Sorin and his friend saw me it was like a reunion. Unfortunately, i have gotten to know those guys well. And Sorin's daughter, who was born early this year with some health problems, is doing much better now.

I got there at 11:oo. I went to bed at Midnight but i was still just shattered after a long week. I was supposed to get there at 10:00. The mind was willing but the flesh was being a pussy.

So we moved them. They had furniture so it was a bitch. Then the 5 of us had beer and pizza, which makes everything better :)

Now i am going to take a siesta before the Halloween party. I am tired in my toes. Lots of bending up and down and lugging heavy stuff.

Ain't Nothin' to Me

Does anyone who care about an NBA lockout? I am sure there are lots of basketball fans who are concerned but i could care less.

We got smilin' politicians
Got songs from rich musicians
Called Tokyo long distance and the queen came for tea
Might mean somethin' to you
It ain't nothin' to me

-Tom Petty


College basketball is so much better.

23:55

So much teaching. 6 more hours manana. Brain no work no more. Sleepy sleepy.

Idiots

                                     Brought to you by www.OccupyEarth.com

Bender: Kill all humans, kill all humans, mus' kill all humans...

Fry: Bender, wake up!

Bender: Wh-uh? I was having the most wonderful dream. I think you were in it.

Here's the answer to yesterday's question. the last column is sales by the millions;

Michael Jackson	Thriller	1982	Pop / Rock / R&B	110
AC/DC	Back in Black	1980	Hard rock / Heavy metal	49
Pink Floyd	The Dark Side of the Moon	1973	Progressive rock	45
Whitney Houston / Various artists	The Bodyguard	1992	Soundtrack	44
Meat Loaf	Bat Out of Hell	1977	Rock	43
Eagles	Their Greatest Hits (1971–1975)	1976	Rock	42
Various artists	Dirty Dancing	1987	Soundtrack	42
Backstreet Boys	Millennium	1999	Pop	40
Bee Gees / Various artists	Saturday Night Fever	1977	Soundtrack	40
Fleetwood Mac	Rumours	1977	Rock	40
Shania Twain	Come On Over	1997	Country / Pop	40
Led Zeppelin	Led Zeppelin IV	1971	Hard rock / Heavy metal	37

 




Thriller sucks (and he was a pedophile)

Back in Black was the last good AC/DC Album. Bonn Scott was a much better singer than Brian Johnson.

Whitney Houston sucks (and she smokes crack)

I fucking hate the Eagles (and it's a compilation album)

Dirty Dancing = Shite

Backstreet Boys = Shite²  

Shania Twain = Shite<sup>3

I get bat Out of Hell and Saturday Night Fever  being on this list. I do.

So the only albums i like? Dark Side of the Moon and Rumours.  

Other than that, I must protest this list.

Shania Twain's album is the best selling album by a woman in ANY genre. Translation? People are idiots.</sup> 

Canciones para una Lunes

'( Songs for a Monday)

 15:15

The book of love is long and boring
No one can lift the damn thing
It's full of charts and facts and figures
And instructions for dancing

But I---
I love it when you read to me
And you---
You can read me anything

-The Magnetic Fields

The other day i saw a guy on Gran Via with a sign that said; El Final Esta Cerca! (the end is near.) And i thought, "Thank fucking god. Stick a fork in me, cuz i'm done."

The conversation in my mind then degenerated quickly. "Fork me! Did you say fork me?!!!! Fork you A hole????!!!!' 

I need someone to save me from myself. Other than me. Maybe i'll put an ad on Craig's List. Those always work out well.


Julie and i text each other pretty much every day. Perchance i've finally found a woman that will love me for my brain and not just as a pot of molten sex.

Perchance.

Does Mel still read this thing? If so, she's going to file a legal injunction against this union (someone loving me for my brain terrifies her,) like she did against me reproducing for 'reasons imperative to the survival of the species' in 1994, 1995, twice in 1996, and each year consecutively until 2000, when she became a believer in the 2012 Doomsday prophecy of the Mayans and thought, "what the hell's the point?" Which conveniently brings us back to square #1 and the end of the world.

 Dude! This thing practically writes itself!

20:27

The Beginning and the End. Fall is finally here. Good-bye 80F days. Not a problem - we had enough of them this year. And 90F days too. The school year is in full throttle which means i no longer have to hunt squirrels in Retiro park for dinner. It wasn't the hunting i minded. I enjoyed that. It was the eating of the squirrels. Rabbit (Conejo) is way better. Seriously. I get it whenever i see it on the menu.

My late class tonight got moved to 10:00 Wed morning. D'oh! SO now it's time for lots of end of the month paperwork.

I wish i had children. I could teach them to do all my paperwork.

21:32

Okay. Class content reports done.

I am listening to Pink Floyd at Pompeii. It's one of the most unique albums i've ever heard. It blew me away when Kev, Smith, O'Neill, the Ridler and i watched it 2x on a rainy Sunday. One of those days that changed the way i looked at  music forever. Nick Mason was an enormous influence on me as a drummer. His strange fluid way of playing drums sounds great, with all the tasty fills, even if he's not the most technically brilliant. Under-rated as far as i'm concerned. At the spur of the moment, on my last trip home in '10, Jim, Mark and i recorded the last Platypus album. I played a very different fluid style, a good bit similar to Mason's drumming on this live album. I liked it. I felt in complete control, yet it was our most experimental album to date. That's a good feel - to feel comfortable enough to record live in the studio. But we've played together a long time.

So here's the question for manana; Name as many as you can of the top 12 rock/pop/country albums, in terms of sales, world-wide.

to be continued......

Grey Skies

What an ugly game between Seattle and Cleveland. They lost 6-3. I am actually happy that i had a class at 19:00 and was saved the agony of watching the first half. I switched to Miami / Denver cuz i picked up Tim Tebow last week for my fantasy league. 15 - 15. He ran in the 2 point conversion. Overtime! Tebow has another chance to score some fantasy points. Because when you are a Seahawk fan in 2011, all you have is the stray upset and fantasy football.

LUNES

Ugh! Teaching on a Sunday is a bad idea. Into the shower and then out to Pozuelo to teach. It's raining. The sky is never grey in summer. At first i was afraid there had been an atomic attack and that it was nuclear winter. No such luck. I still have to go to work.


12:37

It's an October miraculum! My 13:00 student had to cancel and i still get paid. Go Jaybo... Go jaybo ... Go Jaybo

Rumours

DOMINGO

2:42


i heard a rumour the World Series was going on. Game 3 tonight is the first game i am really watching.

                                                                                                   
Texas + St. Louis = Who the Hell Cares

I read the first night ratings abysmal.

And Theo Epstein has reportedly joined the Cubs as a Cabana Boy.

It's going to rain tomorrow for maybe the 4th time since the first week of June.

So, i'm going to hang the laundry that just finished cycling on the drying rack inside in the sitting room. The boys are off in the country at Eduardo's parents.

I have a class tomorrow at 19:00. Hard to fit everyone in these days and cash is cash at the end of the month.

I chatted to Kathy Dunn today for a few minutes thru IM. It was great.

Off to see the laundry hanged.

- - -

The Rangers are falling apart. It's 5 - 0 St. Louis.

I have the heater on low and a a fleece on. It's 50F. Winter is Coming. But this room heats up quickly. I'm toasty now. Nicely toasted.

What a sloppy inning for the Rangers. I hate the Cardinals.

Now the Rangers let loose with some offense. 5 - 3. That is a high scoring ball park out there in Arlington. Beautiful park. But Texas is too hot, even at night. I saw two games in July and i roasted. Holliday threw out the runner at home who was trying to tag. 5 - 3.



13:26

Pujols exploded for 3 HR's and St. Louis crushed Texas. I hate to say it but the Cards are going to win this Series. They were the hottest team in Sept. as the Braves blew an even bigger lead than the Choke Sox did. And this is why the Wild Card works - the hottest teams get into the playoffs. It's also why 4 Wild Cards have won the World Series (St. Louis would be the 5th if they win this year) and 6 others (including this years Cardinals) have reached the World Series.

Scandalous

Jessica Simpson is pregnant. She sold the rights to film her daughter's birth to Lifetime for a show that will be called Petulance and Placenta. Lifetime is gambling $5m that people will be tuning in to see whether her child is the Anti-Christ. Possible nicknames being floated for the child are Darth Blonde and Jessica Simpson's Baby.

There's always a new scandal. Now it's naked photos of Scarlett Johansson on the Internet. The big question is are they real or fake and PhotoShopped? 

And now there are even nude pictures of me online. All i have to say is that the below picture, which many clam to be me, is not me. My ass is not that big and Michael Jackson's former doctor has been giving me injections to make me appear less yellow. Translation; this is a fraud. 

The only time i EVER posed nude was with Pamela Andersen, riding sans clothing on a giant sperm whale for PETA. It's difficult to say no to Pammy.

At least it was tasteful. 

The Friday Finish Line.

23:13

The Life and Times of Tio Jota

I am beyond exhausted. Working 8 hours a Friday had been nuts, but the 4 hours of TOEIC classes are done now. It was fun. I like preparing people for that test.

I finished at 20:00 and staggered home. I only got maybe 4 hours sleep. I haven't slept well the past few Thursday nights. It's rough to have Friday be the earliest day of the week. I'll get used to it. Takes maybe 45 minutes to get up there to Metro San Lorenzo. Maybe make some pasta and then watch a movie. If i last that long.

... and i can't find my way home
-Blind Faith

Qaddafi is dead. The Arab Spring continues. It's time we wrested control of the world from out of the hands of idiots. In Africa. In Europe. In Asia. In North America. And so on and so forth.

oooooohhhhhhhhh! I get grumpy when i'm tired.

Screw it. It's Friday. I can do as i feel fit.

Enjoy the weekend everybody. Kiss your children and cats and dogs for me. Tell them Tio Jota says "Hola!"

time travel

Fleetwood Mac 1977

Getting like Autumn here. Tomorrow will be the first day we don't hit 70F, probably since April.

Lotsa work.

Been in touch with Julie and she seemed to have as good a time as i did on Sunday. Next step? I think i'll go down by here for the day the 1st weekend in Nov.

I get the feeling this could be something. I can't remember the last time i was this interested in a woman. With La Profesora, i guess. That was back in '07.

What year is it now? 2011????!!!!! How the hell did that happen?

Hot

DOMINGO 21:35

The Giants are tied with Buffalo, 24 - 24. 6:36 left in the 4Q.

Giants win!

Well, Julie was awesome. We started talking when i picked her up by the turtle pool in Atocha and then went for Korean food. We talked for 2 hours during dinner and then went to Sol. She needed to try and pick up something for her friend Maite(Maite is 6 foot and finds it hard to find clothes big enough in their small town) at Mango, a women's store (for whom Penelope and Monica Cruz (Monica is hotter) do endorsements for. Anyway, she kept apologizing for bringing me into the place. I told her "no worries." i told her it was not a problem, that it had been a long time since i had been in one (because i used to be in them with Sue from time to time.) Then she saw something she wanted to try on. She apologized again to me, so i told her how i always admire women's stores from the marketing side. There was very upbeat dance music. They're selling the idea; you are going to look hotter than Texas asphalt in this when you go out! And Julie is a hottie herself. Man! 45?!! She looks great. But when we talked about the 70's in the NYC area, she had certainly been there. I like to do CIA background checks as well.

LUNES 23:22

So it was just a very relaxed and fun first 6 1/2 hour date. We said we'd stay in touch and that i would try to go down by her in the next few weeks. So yes... a sense of possibilities.

She's been going through a rough time with her ex of two years, a Spanish guy from the town she lives in with her 2 sons. I told her to hang in there, and i told her my story. And then i told her that Sue and i are fine now and that Annie is my like my sobrina (niece.) On the other hand her ex sounds like an immature horses ass, and sometimes that is just how it shakes out. But at this point there's still hope. They need time apart. She lived in the States for a while with her parents and the distance was good, but she had to come back.

I think Europe and North America should create a Divorcee Exchange, that allows work visas for people who have been

1. recently divorced,

2. want some distance between them and their ex

3. would welcome a change of scenery. Start fresh.

Maybe it would work. It did for me. And for my relationship with Sue. And i even have a new relationship with all of you back home now. Our friendships are always there, just with a twist of lime and a splash of grenadine. It's just a little different. But it's just as delicious.

Anyway, she's a Nice lady. Guay (cool.) Confident. Down to earth, Funny. Curses. Own's Exit...Stage Left. Hotter than Texas Asphalt.

A sense of possibilities

Original Winnipeg Jets logo, 1979

Pavements may teem with intense energy, But the city is calm in this violent sea.

-Rush

13:08

Hope you all dig the new Album of the Week thing. I guess i'm always thinking about music, so why shouldn't we all be? I am listening to Moving Pictures right now. And last Saturday i listened to Julie Slick's album. It's the new ritual. Sue plays Annie the i send them on Saturday morning as well.

I sleep like a dawg after those 8 hour Fridays. Class at 9:00 AM? What are they, Amish that they have to wake so early cuz you can't have electricity?

Shower - shop - eat - clean, then class at 16:30. 76F today. It was 88F the past three days. Still wearing shorts. Madness. I feel like a crab, a victim of global steaming.

Congratulations on the Winnipeg Jets returning to the NHL. I have an old white Jets jersey. However, as of now, they have 0 points. They've only played two games but we are over week into the season. And they are in the Southeastern Conference as they were Atlanta last year, so they play the Caps six times this year, which is cool because they suck.

- - -

Texas wins the AL again. Snore.

Today i have a date. I am meeting this girl, Julie, at Atocha Train Station at 13:30. She is from Ciudad Lineal (about an hour away) and we met online. She is from Brooklyn, divorced with two kids, is remarkably age appropriate (45) and seems down to earth. So, she's coming up for the day. I shall let you know what comes to pass, dear readers.

I feel the sense of possibilities,
I feel the wrench of hard realities.
The focus is sharp in the city.
-Rush

So time to get ready! Woo hoo! Am i nervous? A little, but that will pass. A bit of nerves is a good sign.

Are they oblivious
To this quality?
A quality
Of light unique to
Every city's streets.
-Rush

San Lorenzo

I hold the line - the line of strength that pulls me through
the fear
San Jacinto - I hold the line
San Jacinto - the poison bite and darkness take my sight -
I hold the line
And the tears roll down my swollen cheek - think I'm losing
it - getting weaker
I hold the line - I hold the line
San Jacinto - yellow eagle flies down from the sun -
from the sun

-Peter Gabriel

Every Friday morning i catch the Ceranias to the Metro line 8 to Metro line 4; San Lorenzo. And i always find myself singing the Gabriel song, San Jacinto, inserting San Lorenzo.

San Lorenzo - I hope i get there in time - get there in time!

8 hours on Fri kills me. Gonna watch Brewers - Cards now.

I had a horrible dream that Prince Fielder ate the artist formerly known as/currently known as Prince. He had horrible arrogant flatulence for 7 days and the Brewers lost the NLCS to the Cards! And then Purple Rain fell from the sky. It was fucking awful. It smelt like Prince warmed over.

editor's note: no doves cried

I heard somewhere that Prince only listens to his own stuff. That must be nice.

-Tom Petty

The New World Re-visited

Listening to;

Quadrophenia - the Who

New Blood - Peter Gabriel

Trying to resolve a week long battle with city bank. I hate them with every fiber of my existence.

6 hours today

8 hours manana

Sidebar; yesterday's Chairman of the Hispania Day Parade, Bender Bending Rodriguez, was hecho en Mexico.

Can you see real me?

-The Who

I had a lot to say when i sat down, but if forgot it all. I taught at 9:00 this morning. I am not used to getting up so early. My schedule is slanted very late. But it's filling up. I'm looking at about 27 hours a week.

I am a man who looks after the pigs
Usually I get along okay.
I am man who reveals all he digs,
Should be more careful what I say.

-The Who

Otherwise all is well. Bender Tuesday was a fun one as no one had to work the next day. We were out til about 2:30. I walked American Laura home and crashed on her couch. I woke up to pee in the wee hours when it was still pitch black. I opened my eyes. Where i am? Next to the couch was a drying rack with a white sheet over it. My eyes went to it. It looked like a gurney with a sheet over it. Holy Shit! i thought. Am i in the morgue? And then i it all came to me. I still couldn't see jack but knew the layout of her flat. i found the bathroom and then went back to sleep.

I'm coming down
Got home on the very first train from town.
My dad just left for work
He wasn't talking.
It's all a game,
'Cos inside I'm just the same,
My fried egg makes me sick
First thing in the morning.

-The Who

It's been warm. Cool in the morning but 86 - 88F during the day. It's October 13th! Crazy. The Tigers look like they are done. The Brewers need to knot up their series with St' Louis tonight or they are toast too. A Texas / St. Louis would interest me about as much as contracting (Billy Ray) Syphilis. But sometimes that is the way things go down.

You declared you would be three inches taller
You only became what we made you.
Thought you were chasing a destiny calling
You only earned what we gave you.
You fell and cried as our people were starving,
Now you know that we blame you.
You tried to walk on the trail we were carving,
Now you know that we framed you.

-The Who

And yesterday Chairman Bender issued a collective apology to both North and South America.
"Sorry about the whole genocide thing all those years ago, meatbags. Our bad."

My karma tells me
You've been screwed again.
If you let them do it to you
You've got yourself to blame.
It's you who feels the pain
It's you that takes the shame.
-The Who

Hispania Day

Bender Bending Rodriguez; Conquistador

hey hey hey

I was born a rebel

-Tom Petty

Wednesday is a holiday. it's Hispania Day (Columbus Day in the USA,) also know as "Conquistador: We Slaughtered 1 1/2 Continents of Indigenous Peoples Day. But i still have like 23 hours this week, thanks to an 8 hour Friday. So a nice work week shaping up. TD pass to Obamanu (the most fun name to say in the NFL). 7-0 Seattle.

Oh, how i wish Kevin was here so i could throw an empty beer can at him while SEA still has the lead.

I really do miss all you people very much. It's just not the same without you.

The Giant O looks sharp.

TD throw to Ballard down the ROADWAY middle. The G Men ran the ball well at Seattle has not been bad against the run.

This is a surprising start.

14 - 14 HALF

I made another monster BLT sandwich. Delicious. The Seahawks had every chance to bury the Giants and did not.

Seahawks sack Manning!

Imagine if Peyton Manning and Eli Manning respectively married Dakota Fanning and Stockard Channing on the same day at the same place. "Are you here for the Fanning/Manning Channing/Manning Weddings? That would be AWESOME!

Bud Light the official beer of the NFL. What a shitty beer.

Strativarius Jackson is out. Charlie Whitewurst is back in. Charlie looks pretty good running the hurry up offense. Seattle got a safety. 16-14 Seattle. What an ugly ugly game. I might have to shower after this game if i'm ever to feel clean again.

Whitewurst looks good again. The Hawks are on the move!

68 yard TD pas to Cruz. Eli just hurled it up and Cruz came down with a miracle. 22-19 NYG. 12:34 left. Come on Whitewurst!

20 yd pass to Baldwin. The Beast runs for 5. 4th down, This is not going to end well for Seattle.

Terranova looks like horrible show. Cruz just fumbled. From boom to bust for him. SEA ball on the 25. If the universe is just, this game should end ion a tie. Exciting, but shoddily played. 6 turnovers! 4th down. SEA didn't get a sniff, Hauschaka makes it. 22 -22.

26 yd FG for Tynnes. 25-22. Baldy up to the 40. 3rd down. Baldy again for the 1st. Down to the 30, pass to McCoy. Holy shit! TD Seahawks! Mel and Jan are at the game. Mel must be going nuts!

Weiswurst comes through! To Baldy! 27 yrd TD. The Giants just gave up on it. I think they thought it was offsides. 29-25 SEA. still 2:37 on the clock. Out to the 34yd line. They have all three time outs left. What a game! A crazy game. 41 yard pass play. Giants at the SEA 24. Yikes.

And SEA intercepts and he runs it back for a TD. Holy Crapapalooza! Seahawks win 36-25. I don't believe it. First Eastern Time Zone win in almost 4 years.

hey hey hey

i was born disheveled

-Me

My Visual DNA

Okay - according to to the NY TIMES Personality Quiz; these pictures represent my visual DNA .

                                                                                                                                                       

You have an innate ability to be able to see things from a number of perspectives and your inquisitive nature means that you are drawn to anything surprising or original. Forward-thinking and modernistic in your approach to life, moving with the times is important to you, and you are not afraid to push a few boundaries from time to time. You like to be challenged by thought provoking subjects and tend to find out all the facts before forming your own opinion.

You're a fast-mover and feel energized about anything that gets your pulse racing! You're enthusiastic about life and an upbeat spirit who knows how to have fun and tends to value all which is fresh and new in the world. You tire quickly of old conventions and outdated ideas, wishing to experience new methods with youthful innocence and vigor. It's all about big thrills and exciting antics that take you out of your comfort zone. You want to feel connected to the world around you and actively seek out opportunities to get closer to nature. For you, it is all about broadening your horizons and living life to the fullest!

The formatting went a little bonkers from pasting these pics in. 


Is it accurate? i guess so.