I had a haircut and got my eyelashes dyed this morning. I also had a late afternoon flying lesson scheduled, but 5 minutes after I got to the airport a thunderstorm popped up right on top of us, which hosed that. But my instructor was able to schedule lessons on Monday and Wednesday, so I should get back up again soon.

I stopped by a nursery on the way home to try getting something to grow in two of my sulkier window boxes. We'll see if the verbena can stand up to the vorpal squirrels. And I picked up a couple of cherry red salvias for the old copper wash tub that I've turned into a planter.

Tomorrow I'm getting together with a bunch of people for Thor.

I got a huge amount done and am now exhausted.

In retrospect, I should have realized that hauling bags of mulch around would make a weights workout rather redundant. Ow.

So if you had two days to spend in either Barcelona or Madrid as a thirty-something woman who speaks not a word of Spanish, which city would you stay in and why? Also, any tips?

Ooh. Hmm. I have never been to Barcelona, but I have been to Madrid. So I'd probably pick the other one...but then, I speak some Spanish, so it wasn't a huge problem for me in Madrid.

I have been to Barcelona, but I do speak a little Spanish. I don't know what there is to see and do in Madrid, though, whereas there's lots in Barcelona, and I think it's easy enough to get by without Spanish.

I've only ever been in Madrid so I'm biased, but I loved it. One day in the Prado was nowhere near enough, and the hot drowsy afternoon siestas are ridiculously decadent, and it's a great place to have insomnia and not feel like it's making you suffer, because there are so many places open until long past midnight, big public squares with people milling around snacking and drinking and kids chasing each other and musicians noodling around and endless peoplewatching.

But Barcelona probably has all that too, just minus the Prado but plus Gaudí.

So, uh... that. I am now officially done being not helpful.

I think you'll find more English speakers in Madrid. Or at least, there weren't very many in Barcelona.

My favorite museum in Madrid was actually not the Prado (...I OD'd on Virgin and Childs and medieval art. Which is not my thing) but the Thyssen-Bornemiza.

3 hours to clean my room, but I did all clothes put away, drawers ordered, bed changed, floor vacuumed, and half the surfaces decluttered. I have too much stuff and too much of it in my bedroom.

In Barcelona you get to see Antoni Gaudi architecture like the Sagrada Famíllia. And pretend you're a character in a Whit Stillman film.