I feel like it wasn't politic for me to dodge group dinners a couple of the nights here (did 2 others, probably will need to do a farewell one tonight) but we don't need that much togetherness. Even if I was dining with one other person, it wasn't work, and since the two of us don't have a direct working relationship and actually might end up friends after this, it was downtime.

Downtime=really important.

I was able to actually explain how long I was here and what I was doing to the bar guy at the workingmans' cafe/bar that I've been grabbing my breakfasts at. Score! (3.45E for 2 cafe con leches and chuorros, porros(?) or toasted roll or bread. Not super cheap except compared to elsewhere here, but then food here isn't when you convert to dollars.)

It's kind of hilarious. My unconscious comprehension is really not too bad. When I try to actually do word for word, I'm confuddled. But if I just let it roll over me and blurt out whatever comes to mind... Well, I don't have the conjugations (except in french) but I'm able to communicate. I've ended up doing basic transactional translations for people who have more formal spanish than I, but they get hung up on word for word.

Which is not to say I don't sound like a demented gibberishy toddler. I just am able to get by.

Need to figure out how I'm getting to Segovia tomorrow. And then what. Back in Madrid for Saturday and Sunday nights. Might daytrip to Toledo one of those days. Totally picking up barritas de jamon iberico for the plane ride back (USAir food SUCKS REALLY SUCKS.)

AWESOME SHOW.

Scrappy, prepare to cry...

so, awesome. my gmail is down.

Argh. We got an offer on our house! But it is insultingly low. I googled the people and they are young kids, and they can't afford any more than they offered, so I am less insulted now, but still, we cannot possibly afford to sell even close to that price.

Ugh, I'm so sorry, flea! I'm sending all sorts of ~ma your way that you guys are able to come out of this OK.

so many hugs for my friends in the box this morning.

My office is basically empty so I am getting a bit of a re-charge this week. I have not been feeling great though and today a co-worker is out with the flu, so I am hoping I do not come down with a big ugly yuck.

flea,

are they working with an agent? you'd think the agent would have told them: "you are wasting everyone's time. don't do it."

In today's Unexamined Privilege news: I used the term "ethnic cuisine" as a catchall reference meaning "one or more of the many cuisine types that is considered to have originated from and is associated with a country other than this one." (There's an article about using pictures on labels of pill bottles, so "take with food" is a picture of a taco. And my comment was "Does it have to be a taco, or can it be any ethnic food?" And my co-workers told me the phrase "ethnic cuisine" is racist because it's implying the food is different from what's considered standard American fare.)

So, unpacking this, I have a couple questions:

(1) "Ethnic food" -- racist?

(2) If it *is* racist, is the reason it's racist because it implies the food is "different"? (Because the food IS DIFFERENT. All food is different from other foods.)

(3) If it is racist, what would be a better term? "One or more of the many cuisine types that is considered to have originated from and is associated with a country other than this one"? Because that's really a mouthful.

submit to "yo, is this racist?" PLEASE! although I use the term ethnic food, I do wonder at this point what non-ethinic food is: hamburger? chciken fingers? sandwiches? anything else?

Sumi? Calling Sumi. I got a PM on Twitter from you that looks like a hack. was it? I do not want to click a link I am unsure of.

Man.

That's a lot to unpack. I have a lot of thoughts running through my head in no particular order (and I have an appt in 3 minutes so I have to leave this quick thoughts here and run away):

1) I suppose your coworkers have a point, but I probably wouldn't go that far in saying using the term "ethnic food" is racist. That's like using a fucking chainsaw when scissors would do.

2) This is not a dig at you at all, but more about my amusement that a taco is "ethnic food" when goddamn it is like pizza now, isn't it?

3) You did have a larger point, yes, that perhaps another food item would be more appropriate?