¡Campeones!

So yesterday late morn, after a little bit of stress, many phone calls to Eric and accidentally running into the pride parade, Xavier and I managed to find a bar (rather too empty, unfortunately) that had the Euro 2008 final on. We were joined by friend Josh and other people trickled in, but still, it was nothing like the madness Courtney C seems to have encountered at the George and Dragon in Fremont and the excitement which I believe Eric found at Fado. Nonetheless, can't complain, as Spain won! Makes me homesick!

Photos

Words (Interesting choice to include the bit about "helmeted riot police poised for trouble, rifles and truncheons at the ready". I can picture the atmosphere in Madrid, I have experienced it, and hooliganism would not be foremost on folks' minds. Lots of people drinking and partying in the same place will always result in some trouble, but in situations like this, most Spaniards are first and foremost about having a good time, and second about getting completely soused. I wonder why they decided to make special mention of something that is generally present at any large-scale event where lots of people are out.)

Eurocopa 2008

So Spain is in the final for the Eurocopa. While I'm not a mad sports fan, I miss excitement you feel in the air in Europe when a big sports event is going on. And Spain never lives up to its abilities on paper to get this far. You can bet I'll be sports bar bound Sunday morning football spectration!

Bio-fuels

Ever since bio-fuels started getting touted as the Answer To All Our Problems, I've been having my doubts. Others agree.

Move on bake sales

Apparently the Move On bake sales were a huge success! I'm thinking of making Nanaimo bars for the next one.

Check out the slide show.

Pho-nny how tastes change

You know, before I never really grooved on pho. Now I can't get enough of the stuff. So much so that, despite the fact that I strongly suspected tonight's craft night had been canceled, I used the possibility of being on my way to the same as an excuse to hop in my car and tootle up to Than Brothers to satisfy my craving. And it was good. Alas, the crafting did not happen due to limited RSVPs and David Sedaris stealing Silvio and Eric's attention, so here I sit, sorta kinda getting cracking on a much-delayed job, full and content.

In another good food experience, on Saturday eve, Xavier and I met up with Deborah and Steve to check out How to Cook a Wolf, on Queen Anne. I have officially given up railing against the use of the term tapas (which I believe they of the restaurant do not officially do, but which my dining companions did do) to refer to non-Spanish food. So we dined tapas style: little dishes were had and thoroughly enjoyed. Deliciously decadent dessert was obtained from the oh-so-lush Metropolitan Market, and coffee, companionship and comix were supplied at D&S's. Me, I only fell asleep on the couch for a little bit, around 10, my official evening nap time.

It was the tail end of couple days of mad socializing, in which X bravely met all kinds of new folks and even managed to remember some of their names: Thursday eve was Conifer, National and Petey; Friday bought GURPS-ation and new acquaintances Di, Soapy and Johnbai.

Saturday morn I was up at the crack o' dawn shopping and making brownies for the Move On bake sale thing. Sadly, our local Lincoln Park sale "organizer" did not deign to show up on Saturday. No fear, I found a sale scheduled for Sunday morn and delivered my brownies to them. It was manned by two lovely children who don't want to "end up with another scary president", their mom and a mad senior who'd adopted the whole affair and merrily set about haranguing folks into buying as much as possible. This exhortation did depend on the patron's size, however: a rather slim woman was told she should purchase one of each, what with her body! Others did not receive the same encouragement. The table was hopping, so here's hoping they raised lots of dough (pun entirely intended).

People got married, and I was related to them

The wedding of my brother Andrés and his lovely now wife Sam was the first one I'd ever been two where I kinda had a job to do. OK, so that job consisted solely of having my picture taken. Still it was odd to not just be a guest, but the Sister of the Bride. Anyway, enough about me.

It was a small affair with a lovely view on Commencement Bay in Tacoma. Short and sweet. Homemade vows. No religion (much to the minister's chagrin, it seemed to me). Customer-created poetry from the best man. Many and assorted beverages (had five cups and glasses in front of me at one point). Good food and a delish red velvet cake.

Here they are cutting it:


Some hilarious dancing later ensued, but not for very long:

Ecoogler

Well, despite the fact that, according to Treehugger, Ecoogler doesn't seem to have anything to do with Google, I'm going to give them a try. I do so very, very, very many searches for work, it would be nice if I thought they were doing some good other than help the corporations I'm translating for earn even more money.

UPDATE: Well it doesn't seem to work in the Firebox search box. Bummer.

I heart John Cusack

No blogation but tapation

Haven't really been feeling inspired to blog lately, as you all may have noticed. So I'll limit myself to a new musical tapa, and that's that.

After a couple months listening almost exclusively to new discoveries from the liberry, Pandora and lastfm, I have broken into my collection in earnest and discovered long abandoned favorites, including the Neville Brothers's Yellow Moon, a must-have.

I offer you their version of the classic 'Will the Circle Be Unbroken'.

Can the circle be unbroken,
By and by, Lord, bye and bye?
There's a better home a-waiting
In the sky, Lord, in the sky.

I was standing by the window
On one cold and cloudy day;
And I saw the hearse come rolling
For to carry my mother away.

Lord, I told the undertaker,
"Undertaker, please drive slow;
For this body you are hauling,
Lord, I hate to see her go"

I followed close behind her,
tried to hold up and be brave
But I could not hide my sorrow
When they laid her in the grave.

Went back home, Lord, my home was lonesome
Since my mother, she was gone;
All my brothers, sisters crying
What a home so sad and lone.

Now my mother, she's crossed over
Where so many have gone before.
And I know, Lord, I will meet her
Just waiting at glory's door.

...and a NEW CAR!

OK, it kinda looks like that, only it's burgundy, not blue. After a long day's car shopping, thanks to Muffin's knowledge, ingenuity and patience, I got what we believe to be a very good deal on a 2007 Ford Focus. (A million thanks, Muffin!) Yes, I know it's domestic, but the Focus consistently ranks high environmentally and in terms of driveability and reliability. I know feel like a proper adult, as this is the most expensive thing I've ever owned. Yowza! That kind of freaks me out, but boy is it fun to drive!

Back to work...