9/23 9:40AM
We took off into the sunrise above a deck of blue gray clouds. Far off to starboard a thunderhead rose from the clouds like an art deco coffee table on a fluffy carpet. Back to Jabba the Hut.
Jane took special effort to secure seats for us in aisle 8, on the bulkhead adjoining first class, for the long, long flight from Newark to Barcelona. We would enjoy extra leg room and extra convenience, at the door, near a head.
We walked onto the plane, turned right, glanced left, and there, in full repose, in the aisle seat and one third of the middle seat reclined Jabba the Hut. Jane, as is her want, booked herself the window seat. She passed Jabba, who made no effort to move. I took a big breath, squeezed past him and shoehorned myself into my seat, between his overflow and the rigid seat arm on my right, between Jane and me. The tray tables reside in those chairarms, but the caird arm on my left, and my tray table, were completely obscured by, and buried by, Jabba's overflow. He oozed over the seat into the left one third of my space.
New experiences (even bad ones) nearly always have some redeeming features. This encounter was no different. You never know when you will be afforded a glimpse into the future.
I now know what it feels like to be in a cofffin- in a coffin with Jabba the Hut. Tight. Sweaty. Jabba consumed extra quantities of air, too. It seemed as if the pressurized air system had failed and I was breathing the thin air of Mt. Everest's base camp without external aid or reinforcement. Jabba did not speak - for eight hours. Occasionally he rose, with surprising
alacrity and ease, to relieve himself. Otherwise his bulk reclined in his chair - and one third of mine.
As I mentioned before, Janey darlin' slept well over the Atlantic. It was tougher for me. When he inhaled his bulk expanded and his one third of my seat expanded to 40%.
Oh well, It is all history now. I bear Jane no ill will. It wasn't her fault. Just remember, if she returns from Europe with no perfume and her head shaved: your dear old dad had nothing to do with it.
We left the hotel by cab at 4:30AM. There were still thousands of kids scattered along it's boulevard, at the end of a long night of reveling but not yeat ready for it to end. Youth has such stamina and such a lust for staying till the last dog dies.
Thursday, September 27, 2007
Barcelona and Beyond
9/23 2:35PM
We arrived about 10AM local time yesterday morning. Jane slept pretty well on the passage. I didn't. We stowed our luggage and went strolling in La Rambla. The city is in the midst of a festival. Big bandstands and makeshift theaters full all the squares around La Rambla and the Gothic quarter. We spent the day strolling, stopping at outdoor restaurants and watching people, and checking hotels for our cruise end stay. We selected a 51 room boutique hotel on La Rambla, the Monte Carlo. Between 7:30 and 8PM we went to bed. Now we are both awake. We leave at 4:30AM for the airport and our hop to Venice. By noon or so we will be aboard ship. Startling news on the telly: first ever case of blue toungue disease found in a cow in Ipswich. What the blue fuck is bloue tongue disease? We thought of you, TIsh, the first time we set out for a drink in La Rambla, about your birthday and how melancholy you became spending it so far from your sister. A young Spaniard strode past us, a lad of nineteen or so, striding up the boulevard singing a Beatles song - in English.
Late in the afternoon we were sipping some wine and gin and tonic, identifying the Americans in the crowd as they walked by.
"There's one". she said, nodding at a middle aged black fellow headed our way. As he got to us, we recognized him. It was O.J.!! He sat next to us, glanced at us and smiled amiably. Jane stood, grabbed her drink, walked to him and hurled the drink in his face. He ran, startled, afraid. Her fury was breathtaking. I was damned upset with her though, with the exchange rate what it is, a good gin and tonic is damned expensive!
9/23 6:10AM Barcelona airport
We are waiting to board our flight. At security Jane's carry on was pulled. Inside, in a ;plastic bag were two questionable things, my cetaphil lotion and Jane's perfume, both restricted materials in containers well above acceptable size. The cetaphil is the only thing between me and 95 year old skin. As we all know, I am loathe to use sunscreen. The Cetaphil helps retard damage and restore health to me ravaged and rapidly aging arms, legs, neck, and face. As soon as the case was opened, Jane realized her mistake. She immediately began to wail like a grieving Bedouin woman - some high pitched sound puctuated by a staccato sound. She offered life giving and life sustaining lotion in an instant while, in rapid Spanish, she contrived to both smile widely and continue to wail as she shamnelessly begged to keep her perfume.
The perfume is with us. My Cetaphil is history. When you next see me my epidemis will look and feel like papyrus rescued from an archeological dig in the Dead Sea. But Jane will smell fine.
And I haven't ever talked aobut the favor she did for me on the tranatlantic flight. Think Jabba the Hut and I will tell you about it later
We arrived about 10AM local time yesterday morning. Jane slept pretty well on the passage. I didn't. We stowed our luggage and went strolling in La Rambla. The city is in the midst of a festival. Big bandstands and makeshift theaters full all the squares around La Rambla and the Gothic quarter. We spent the day strolling, stopping at outdoor restaurants and watching people, and checking hotels for our cruise end stay. We selected a 51 room boutique hotel on La Rambla, the Monte Carlo. Between 7:30 and 8PM we went to bed. Now we are both awake. We leave at 4:30AM for the airport and our hop to Venice. By noon or so we will be aboard ship. Startling news on the telly: first ever case of blue toungue disease found in a cow in Ipswich. What the blue fuck is bloue tongue disease? We thought of you, TIsh, the first time we set out for a drink in La Rambla, about your birthday and how melancholy you became spending it so far from your sister. A young Spaniard strode past us, a lad of nineteen or so, striding up the boulevard singing a Beatles song - in English.
Late in the afternoon we were sipping some wine and gin and tonic, identifying the Americans in the crowd as they walked by.
"There's one". she said, nodding at a middle aged black fellow headed our way. As he got to us, we recognized him. It was O.J.!! He sat next to us, glanced at us and smiled amiably. Jane stood, grabbed her drink, walked to him and hurled the drink in his face. He ran, startled, afraid. Her fury was breathtaking. I was damned upset with her though, with the exchange rate what it is, a good gin and tonic is damned expensive!
9/23 6:10AM Barcelona airport
We are waiting to board our flight. At security Jane's carry on was pulled. Inside, in a ;plastic bag were two questionable things, my cetaphil lotion and Jane's perfume, both restricted materials in containers well above acceptable size. The cetaphil is the only thing between me and 95 year old skin. As we all know, I am loathe to use sunscreen. The Cetaphil helps retard damage and restore health to me ravaged and rapidly aging arms, legs, neck, and face. As soon as the case was opened, Jane realized her mistake. She immediately began to wail like a grieving Bedouin woman - some high pitched sound puctuated by a staccato sound. She offered life giving and life sustaining lotion in an instant while, in rapid Spanish, she contrived to both smile widely and continue to wail as she shamnelessly begged to keep her perfume.
The perfume is with us. My Cetaphil is history. When you next see me my epidemis will look and feel like papyrus rescued from an archeological dig in the Dead Sea. But Jane will smell fine.
And I haven't ever talked aobut the favor she did for me on the tranatlantic flight. Think Jabba the Hut and I will tell you about it later
Wednesday, September 26, 2007
Gaudi, Marti, Bacardi 2007
9-21
4:55PM
Newark Airport
Buona Sera
We are on our long layover at the Newark airport prior to our departure for Barcelona. Janey has a mouthful of whitening things and smiles goofily at the TSA agents she sees. We are in a bar called Brooklyn's Jazz Brewery, drinking well gin and an unnamed cabernet which reminds me a little of Chateau de Swamp Water.
We have walked the terminal several times.
(sung to the tune of Rhinestone Cowboy)
I been walkin these streets so long
singin the same old song
I know every crack in the dirty hallways of Newark.
Where "on time's" the name of the game
and longtoothed stews are as common as the snow and the rain.
There's been a load of fatassed tourists
in this den of Yankee travelers,
but I'm gonna be where the lights are shinin on me!
Like a Ramblas hooker
strutting down the streets in a star spangled bra with a pair of stilettos way too high
.
etc.
5:30 PM
Had to stop. The joint is crowded and a beefy fellow with a bluff attitude and a big smile asked if he couldjoin us. He is here to pick up an associate from Vegas. He introduced himself as Tony. Said he is "in the waste management business, and some investments." Been in Jersey all his life. We had a great conversation. He has an uncle who is slipping into dementia. Tony helps take care of him, but one night, when Tony was delivering dinner to the old boy, the old fool shot him. Damn near killed him, but Tony is tough. Tony and h is wife, Carmella, have two kids.
Nice guy.
Gotta go. Boddabing.
Fuggedabowdit
4:55PM
Newark Airport
Buona Sera
We are on our long layover at the Newark airport prior to our departure for Barcelona. Janey has a mouthful of whitening things and smiles goofily at the TSA agents she sees. We are in a bar called Brooklyn's Jazz Brewery, drinking well gin and an unnamed cabernet which reminds me a little of Chateau de Swamp Water.
We have walked the terminal several times.
(sung to the tune of Rhinestone Cowboy)
I been walkin these streets so long
singin the same old song
I know every crack in the dirty hallways of Newark.
Where "on time's" the name of the game
and longtoothed stews are as common as the snow and the rain.
There's been a load of fatassed tourists
in this den of Yankee travelers,
but I'm gonna be where the lights are shinin on me!
Like a Ramblas hooker
strutting down the streets in a star spangled bra with a pair of stilettos way too high
.
etc.
5:30 PM
Had to stop. The joint is crowded and a beefy fellow with a bluff attitude and a big smile asked if he couldjoin us. He is here to pick up an associate from Vegas. He introduced himself as Tony. Said he is "in the waste management business, and some investments." Been in Jersey all his life. We had a great conversation. He has an uncle who is slipping into dementia. Tony helps take care of him, but one night, when Tony was delivering dinner to the old boy, the old fool shot him. Damn near killed him, but Tony is tough. Tony and h is wife, Carmella, have two kids.
Nice guy.
Gotta go. Boddabing.
Fuggedabowdit
Sunday, September 23, 2007
Sunday, September 16, 2007
Weekend at Grams and Gramps
What and incredibly wonderful but draining weekend!
Dani, Damon, Laurel, Quentin and Dani's best friend Monica stopped by on their way through as they are on the move to Dallas and we were all here, except Alesha, to greet them and welcome Quentin as our newest addition. They stayed Friday night and left for Dallas with a quick stop in Kansas on Saturday morning. We hated to see them go but they will be back at Christmas weather permitting.
Grand daughter Evelyn spent most of the weekend with us as did Miss Claire on Saturday. Claire loves to kiss the babies! She has such a concern for them when they cry. Evelyn has the most captivating smile and the way she raises her eyebrows is so adorable.
Thank you all for joining us Friday night. It means so much to me to have these little gatherings. Dani and Damon didn't know you were all coming and they were happy to show off their new little man.
Kharen
Tuesday, September 4, 2007
Hello From Indiana
Joe and I are in Indiana with his Mom, Helen. We've spent time with his brothers Jim, Richard and Paul and had a great time catching up. We met Paul's new wife, Nora and her daughter Kimberlynn.
Joe took me to Nashville, Indiana which is a great little town with a lot of shops. It's similar to Estes Park but not as big and there isn't much around it. There isn't much around much of anything! :O) We picked up a few treasures and Sharen would have been jealous of the wonderful craft stampers store I found.
We have plans to meet up with one of his old co-workers for lunch and take Helen to a couple of places she has wanted to get out too.
It's been very relaxing and we are enjoying being able to catch up with everyone.
Joe took me to Nashville, Indiana which is a great little town with a lot of shops. It's similar to Estes Park but not as big and there isn't much around it. There isn't much around much of anything! :O) We picked up a few treasures and Sharen would have been jealous of the wonderful craft stampers store I found.
We have plans to meet up with one of his old co-workers for lunch and take Helen to a couple of places she has wanted to get out too.
It's been very relaxing and we are enjoying being able to catch up with everyone.
Sunday, September 2, 2007
Labor Day
I hope everyone is having a great Labor Day weekend. Dad had a very nice party on Saturday. Janet and Jim were staying the weekend while they went to the CU vs. CSU game. CU won! Poor Janet, she was pretty bummed. Nothing a couple of gin and tonics didn't help with! It was also nice that Alesha and Ryan joined us. We had a Blongo Ball tournament which Jim and I won. It's a game where you throw a rope with two golf ball on the ends at a three tier stand to accumulate points. It was simple and fun. It was great spending the time with everyone.
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