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Friday, August 26, 2011
fishing!
Wednesday, August 24, 2011
Internet disconnection
I am temporarily without Internet at home. Sorry for the pause in the blogging especially since I've got some good stuff to share. Currently I'm on the way to go fishing. Yay!
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Thursday, August 4, 2011
Wednesday, July 13, 2011
The blog is moving...
Forget the previous post below regarding Tumblr. The new blog is here: http://sparkledenimleather.blogspot.com/. Sorry for the confusion!
Thanks everyone for your interest and support :)
tranny doctor visit do-over
Last Friday I went to the Country Doctor in Seattle to begin medical transition in the U.S. I love this place! Everyone is super nice and tranny-friendly. I have developed unrealistic anxiety over anything bureaucratic because of being ignorant, illegal, and language challenged in Barcelona. This last visit was so pleasant and very low barrier for me as I am uninsured and unemployed. I have my letter from my therapist and I took a blood test to make sure everything was ok. The results came back earlier this week and I had very high triglycerides. I am back this morning to do a fasting test. Hopefully that was just a fluke and there is not actually anything wrong with me. I'm hanging out in the waiting room at the moment.
FYI I am now on Tumblr (SparkleDenimLeather.Tumblr.com).
FYI I am now on Tumblr (SparkleDenimLeather.Tumblr.com).
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Friday, June 17, 2011
Monday, June 13, 2011
Crossing the pond (a belated recap)
We had going away drinks at Bar Quimet.
Lucy and Julia were a HUGE help in getting me to the airport during the wee hours of the morning with all of my luggage and Duke.
I said goodbye to my roommates; some of them cried.
Duke and I had a long layover at Charles de Gaulle airport. I had to pick up all of my baggage and check-in all over again. I am now a luggage tetris-dogwalking master.
Dad, Angie, Norm, and Michael picked me up at LAX. This is my dad, Don, with his gender queer Starbucks coffee, Dawn.
Thursday, June 2, 2011
Return of the JP
I am returning to Seattle a little sooner than expected. The original plan was June 12th, but life happened.
Current plan:
At the buttcrack of dawn on June 5, I fly to Seattle solo and my dad flies with Duke to Victoria, B.C. On Monday, June 6 I have a job interview in downtown Seattle. I just found out yesterday so planning travel is a bit stressful. While I am there, my dad will be getting my car up and going at Tita Baby's house. She has been kind enough to store my things while I have been playing in Barcelona. After my interview on Monday, I'll take the ferry to the island to meet up with my dad. He'll hang out for a few days than fly to LAX. I will be sticking around Canada until I have a permanent place to live and a job. Hopefully things will be sorted out quickly.
Current plan:
At the buttcrack of dawn on June 5, I fly to Seattle solo and my dad flies with Duke to Victoria, B.C. On Monday, June 6 I have a job interview in downtown Seattle. I just found out yesterday so planning travel is a bit stressful. While I am there, my dad will be getting my car up and going at Tita Baby's house. She has been kind enough to store my things while I have been playing in Barcelona. After my interview on Monday, I'll take the ferry to the island to meet up with my dad. He'll hang out for a few days than fly to LAX. I will be sticking around Canada until I have a permanent place to live and a job. Hopefully things will be sorted out quickly.
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Thursday, May 19, 2011
culture shock 2
I apologize for the major blog neglect...
I've been on SoCal for roughly three weeks now. With the exception of one night in Corona, I have been living on Torrance. It has definitely been a culture shock coming from bcn. Hell, I still got culture shock when every time I came down from Seattle.
There is the standard shock of everything being bigger, faster, and newer. Then, of course, there are things I should have anticipated, but forgot about.
Cars.
I haven't driven in over a year. Gas prices have continued to rise in my absence. Filling up the tank in the Honda Element was a modest $50...I thought I was going to cry. Californians really don't and can't walk anywhere so a tank of gas is nothing. Traffic is always horrendous. I was on the verge of a nervous breakdown on the 15 to 91 bridge and has to call my dad.
Pop culture.
I have no idea what is going on.
Customer service.
People are so nice! They keep trying to carry my groceries to my car and refill my free glasses of water and I keep giving them dirty looks. I don't know how to respond.
Prices.
All the wrong things are expensive again, i.e. wine.
Food.
Maybe my tastebuds died in Spain, but the food here is not as good as I remember. It is trying too hard (and sometimes scary). I just has breakfast with my dad. On the menu: a fried mozarella sticks sandwich, a bacon maple sundae, and a nacho salad. And...everything has high fructose corn syrup again.
Fam.
I'm spending time with family I never had much exposure too. They're alright. Yesterday my niece and I ate gummy vitamins with peanut butter for snack. The day before she dipped them in chocolate fondue. She's classy.
Note: this was painstakingly typed on a touchscreen phone.
I've been on SoCal for roughly three weeks now. With the exception of one night in Corona, I have been living on Torrance. It has definitely been a culture shock coming from bcn. Hell, I still got culture shock when every time I came down from Seattle.
There is the standard shock of everything being bigger, faster, and newer. Then, of course, there are things I should have anticipated, but forgot about.
Cars.
I haven't driven in over a year. Gas prices have continued to rise in my absence. Filling up the tank in the Honda Element was a modest $50...I thought I was going to cry. Californians really don't and can't walk anywhere so a tank of gas is nothing. Traffic is always horrendous. I was on the verge of a nervous breakdown on the 15 to 91 bridge and has to call my dad.
Pop culture.
I have no idea what is going on.
Customer service.
People are so nice! They keep trying to carry my groceries to my car and refill my free glasses of water and I keep giving them dirty looks. I don't know how to respond.
Prices.
All the wrong things are expensive again, i.e. wine.
Food.
Maybe my tastebuds died in Spain, but the food here is not as good as I remember. It is trying too hard (and sometimes scary). I just has breakfast with my dad. On the menu: a fried mozarella sticks sandwich, a bacon maple sundae, and a nacho salad. And...everything has high fructose corn syrup again.
Fam.
I'm spending time with family I never had much exposure too. They're alright. Yesterday my niece and I ate gummy vitamins with peanut butter for snack. The day before she dipped them in chocolate fondue. She's classy.
Note: this was painstakingly typed on a touchscreen phone.
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Friday, April 29, 2011
OMG OMG OMG OMG
This is about to become JP's Adventures...without the Expat qualifier. At home right now after going away drinks at Bar Quimet. Trying to understand how to pack away the rest of my things. Still drunk. Eating a bowl of beans to sober up. Everything is so surreal. I am loved and I have a lot of love for a lot of lovable people here. Mush. Good mush. Not planning on sleeping to night. Cab will arrive at 5:30 AM. Duke knows what is going on more than I do. I will have an emotional breakdown over my loved ones in Barcelona in approximately 1 week. Right now, no time for feelings other than panic.
Monday, April 25, 2011
Another one to check off
Ate arros negre today with a large dollop of ali oli (serious dragon breath) followed by rabbit, half a bottle of wine, and some flan.
Sunday, April 24, 2011
Departing Flight - Saturday, Apr 30, 2011
 Flight 1349 Airbus Jet 321 Jet Airline confirmation:2P3LFG | From Barcelona (BCN) 12:55pm -Apr 30, Sat | To Paris (CDG) 02:50pm -Apr 30, Sat | Nonstop Coach Flight Duration 1 hr 55 min | |||
Flight 74 BOEING 777-300ER JET Jet Airline confirmation:2P3LFG | From Paris (CDG) 04:35pm -Apr 30, Sat | To Los Angeles (LAX) 07:05pm -Apr 30, Sat | Nonstop Coach Flight Duration 11 hr 30 min | |||
| Flight Duration: 13hr 25min | Layover Time: 1hr 45min | Total Trip Time: 15hr 10min |
Trying to soak it up
Originally when I made my top 5 things to do list, I was really excited to squeeze the most out of my time left in Barcelona. To be honest, I've been having challenges motivating myself to do anything. Last week, most people were out of town for Semana Santa or nesting so for the most part I was left to my own devices. I used to think I had a bit of a lone wolf streak, but lately I have been boring myself to death. It just hasn't been as fun as it could be to do my Top 5 list solo. I even tried ordering arros negre at a restaurant and they rejected me because it has to be ordered for 2 people. I am getting tired of this lame duck situation and I want to hurry up and go back to the U.S.
Friday had a rainy forecast so I spent the day at the Caixa Forum to go to at least one museum besides the Museu de l'erótica. That's one more I can check off my list. I figured bad weather would be a good museum day.
Saturday, April 23 was Sant Jordi Day (Jordi is Catalan for George) in Barcelona. It's a lovers' holiday like Valentine's Day. Boys give roses to girls and girls give books to boys. Roses are for love and books are forever. The streets are filled with rose and book vendors and a lot of authors come out to do signings. I ventured out for a little while with Duke, but I couldn't handle the crowds for too long.
Wednesday, April 20, 2011
Top 5 Thing I Will NOT Miss...
1. Swamp Ass - Anyone who has experienced the height of a Mediterranean summer knows what I am talking about.
2. Living in dilapidated housing. Most of the flats here are fairly old and Spanish appliances are poorly constructed so everything is always falling apart. Most places also do not have air conditioning or heating. I think I lost around 10 lbs during winter because all of my body fat/energy went towards homeostasis.
3. Concrete jungle
4. Being confused and confusing all the time. For way too long I was saying "con yo" instead of "conmigo".
5. Perpetual thirstiness. All of the drinks here are tiny AND they do not give free glasses of water at restaurants.
2. Living in dilapidated housing. Most of the flats here are fairly old and Spanish appliances are poorly constructed so everything is always falling apart. Most places also do not have air conditioning or heating. I think I lost around 10 lbs during winter because all of my body fat/energy went towards homeostasis.
3. Concrete jungle
4. Being confused and confusing all the time. For way too long I was saying "con yo" instead of "conmigo".
5. Perpetual thirstiness. All of the drinks here are tiny AND they do not give free glasses of water at restaurants.
Sunday, April 17, 2011
Top 5 Things I Will Miss in Barcelona
1. Cheap and to-die-for olives, olive oil, and wine
2. Socialism - translated into excellent public transit, healthcare, and government subsidized arts & culture
3. A ridiculous amount of public holidays
4. Sun
5. Loved ones. I have met some of the coolest people EVER in Barcelona.
2. Socialism - translated into excellent public transit, healthcare, and government subsidized arts & culture
3. A ridiculous amount of public holidays
4. Sun
5. Loved ones. I have met some of the coolest people EVER in Barcelona.
Thursday, April 14, 2011
The Top 5 Series
I have 2 weeks left here. In honor of my time in Barcelona and inspired by High Fidelity, I am going to blog as many Top 5's as I can think of before I go. This is an effort to organize and share my parting reflections. I definitely have some Graduation Goggles in action.
1. Eat arrós negre
3. Museums. This city is up to its eyeballs in arts & culture and I haven't fully flexed the inner nerd here. I even live next to the MACBA, but the closest I ever get is letting Duke pee on the lawn outside. There is even a chocolate museum (can't believe I haven't gone yet).
Top 5 Things Left to Do...
1. Eat arrós negre
2. Take advantage of primavera and visit the Cervantes Rose Garden
3. Museums. This city is up to its eyeballs in arts & culture and I haven't fully flexed the inner nerd here. I even live next to the MACBA, but the closest I ever get is letting Duke pee on the lawn outside. There is even a chocolate museum (can't believe I haven't gone yet).
4. Wine tasting in Vilafranca del Penedés...
Wednesday, April 13, 2011
Did Olot last weekend
I went to Olot this last weekend. It's an 1 hr and 45 min outside of Barcelona by bus.
This was my first time actually couchsurfing. I have hosted a few times so this was definitely an exciting opportunity. I stayed with a hometown guy, Carles, and his new Portuguese roommate, Isa, in their fairly spacious flat complete with a terrace. It was absolutely delicious to be outside the city and romping around in the woods (unfortunately, I couldn't take Duke with me on the bus). Olot is covered in extinct volcanoes with ancient churches in their craters. During the day, I hiked all around in the broiling sun, explored a medieval village, and "downtown" Olot. According to Carles, all of the buildings in Olot are new because everything was destroyed in an earthquake in the 1400s. His concept of new architecture means after the Dark Ages.
Carles is a very interesting global citizen. When he speaks English, he has a bit of an accent from living in Scotland for a couple years. He has traveled all around the and is probably the most welcoming and worldly Catalan person I have met - wicked sense of humor. I had the privilege of spending time with his extra-hospitable friends, including the most beautiful woman I have ever met who also happened to be stealing glasses of cava while being 8 months pregnant. She was mildly chastised by her friends who were all chain smoking at the table.
At night we went to a mini-music festival and then Isa prepared a Portuguese/Catalan feast. She and her friends are all Portuguese architects. I was wined and dined to my heart's content: butifarra, wine, fuet, rice, roasted peppers, olives, chicken skewers, herb, etc... After gorging ourselves, we went off to a bar downtown for a couple drinks and pool. Carles plays a mean game, luckily I was on his team. These Catalans play by funny rules. If you scratch, not only does the other team get the ball, they get an extra turn. Also, you're allowed to nudge the cue ball a little before you hit it. Later that night, Isa and I went back early. Carles still had some party left in him. He came home around 8 am.
The next morning I headed out for more hiking and old churches and then had a brief siesta before heading back to Barcelona. Even though it was burning hot earlier in the day, I got caught in a violent rainstorm and arrived at the bus station soaked to the bone. The bus back to Barcelona was packed, mostly with university-aged students coming back from a weekend with the fam. When I got back to Barca, I grabbed some bangers and mash for dinner at an Irish pub, picked up Duke from a friends' place, and headed back to my humble abode.
This was my first time actually couchsurfing. I have hosted a few times so this was definitely an exciting opportunity. I stayed with a hometown guy, Carles, and his new Portuguese roommate, Isa, in their fairly spacious flat complete with a terrace. It was absolutely delicious to be outside the city and romping around in the woods (unfortunately, I couldn't take Duke with me on the bus). Olot is covered in extinct volcanoes with ancient churches in their craters. During the day, I hiked all around in the broiling sun, explored a medieval village, and "downtown" Olot. According to Carles, all of the buildings in Olot are new because everything was destroyed in an earthquake in the 1400s. His concept of new architecture means after the Dark Ages.
Carles is a very interesting global citizen. When he speaks English, he has a bit of an accent from living in Scotland for a couple years. He has traveled all around the and is probably the most welcoming and worldly Catalan person I have met - wicked sense of humor. I had the privilege of spending time with his extra-hospitable friends, including the most beautiful woman I have ever met who also happened to be stealing glasses of cava while being 8 months pregnant. She was mildly chastised by her friends who were all chain smoking at the table.
At night we went to a mini-music festival and then Isa prepared a Portuguese/Catalan feast. She and her friends are all Portuguese architects. I was wined and dined to my heart's content: butifarra, wine, fuet, rice, roasted peppers, olives, chicken skewers, herb, etc... After gorging ourselves, we went off to a bar downtown for a couple drinks and pool. Carles plays a mean game, luckily I was on his team. These Catalans play by funny rules. If you scratch, not only does the other team get the ball, they get an extra turn. Also, you're allowed to nudge the cue ball a little before you hit it. Later that night, Isa and I went back early. Carles still had some party left in him. He came home around 8 am.
The next morning I headed out for more hiking and old churches and then had a brief siesta before heading back to Barcelona. Even though it was burning hot earlier in the day, I got caught in a violent rainstorm and arrived at the bus station soaked to the bone. The bus back to Barcelona was packed, mostly with university-aged students coming back from a weekend with the fam. When I got back to Barca, I grabbed some bangers and mash for dinner at an Irish pub, picked up Duke from a friends' place, and headed back to my humble abode.
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