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July 9, 08

words are the worst way, to say what I have to say...

I´ve posted a few new pictures.

more excitingly, I´ve taken about 100 more between last night and this AM, in an attempt to spark more interesting ideas and some feedback. I´ll get to posting them in the next few days... I´ve been having fun with them. they are all really simple. just things that I see everyday. you´ll see them soon, so let me know what you think.

hope that things are great...

Matthew

© Published at 13:44 ( 2 comments / 56 visits )
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June 24, 08

dog won't play with me... I'm smelly and unshaven, searching for a safe haven.

I put up some pics but the site or pc I'm on won't let me play...

I'll be back to organize and edit later.

enjoy what you will.

have fun,

Matthew

 

 

 

© Published at 17:24 ( 5 comments / 75 visits )
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June 13, 08

when a boy writes off the world its done in sloppy mispelled words, when a girl writes off the world its done in cursive...

I´ve done a little posting but not much writing... things are good. I´m here, grinding it out a bit. I´m a little tired, I think that I may take that siesta today before heading back to work.

things were a little intresting the past few days at work. the chef talks to me like I´m in charge when he´s not there, but noone listens to the things that need to get done. I´m not saying that things don´t get done. I just mean that the people do what they want. then Jota comes in and asks me what happened like its my fault. I took a minute to remind him last night that I´m just a cook. he got bold and told me not to be scared, so I told him that its not my nerves, its the pay. when he pushed the subject I told hime that Alberto asked me if I had papers yet... yeah, he´s the guy that said he would help me get them when I started, then told me that he couldn´t. more correctly, I think that he just didn´t want to. Jota, was like, and I quote, ¨mas tonto que yo¨. he´s dumber than me... to which I responded yeah, and he went on to tell me that if I´m here long enough I can file for papers without an employer. I told him that I knew that and come september, I only have to wait another 2 years. thanks, now can you leave I´m trying to cook. this all came about again because Jota is trying to get me the position but Alberto doesn´t wake a segundo without papers. Today has been a little more of the same... my other option is to hold out til after my vacation and look for someplace else that wants to hire me and help me get those papers I want. after all, its not about having the papers to work, its having them so that I can get on a plane without the fear of fines and other problems. actually, if I were to tell you that I could get on a plane to Barcelona for 100€ round trip and then tell you that trip by train costs me double, maybe my point is better made and I didn´t even leave the country. I get a month vacation and I have to figure out where in Spain would be nice, which isn´t so bad but I´d like to see a bit more of europe and I know that Janire would like to see someplace a little different too.

breathe.

I´m done for now I think. time to head home and put those stamps I bought to use...

 

Hasta Luego,               Matthew

  

© Published at 15:37 ( 0 comments / 75 visits )
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May 27, 08

you listen to the same damn songs everyday, no wonder you think that you´ll never get away...

I brought a drive with me today to upload some stuff for everyone. but it doesn´t read right. I´m going home to transfer files before work and I´ll be back tomorrow for show and tell...

hasta ahorra,     Matthew

 

here again!

so the posts are up. heres a bit of a summary... I got a new cell phone and I can take pictures with it. check out some of the results. also, I posted some songs. so that we can listen to something different. and I think that thats about it for uploads for the month. one day I´ll pay so that I can just keep uploading but that day isn´t here yet. first I´mma edit some photos to post so that I look like I know what I´m doing. :)

talk soon,

Matthew

 

 

 

 

© Published at 11:05 ( 0 comments / 80 visits )
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May 19, 08

a surrender to reason, but not a reason to surrender....

finally got to make some posts.... I put up another twentyish pictures and a few videos from the fiest on the 16th. give them a look and let me know what you think.

things here are steady going. good.

what about on your coast? I know a lot of people that are having babies... its kind of crazy. but congrats to all of you! oh, and good luck. :D

I have to go to correos and see what they want so that I can get my package. they´re holding my monitor on me which is a bit annoying. speaking of computers, we´re going to have a new laptop in a few days! our new baby´s name is sony...

I´m not sure what else to tell you about at the moment but if I think of anything I´ll edit you in an update. in the meanwhile upload something for me to look at!

take care,

Matthew

 

 

 

 

© Published at 15:48 ( 0 comments / 51 visits )
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April 30, 08

its all in vain if theres nothing left to gain...

so I can´t upload anything yet... tomorrow is the first but I´m not sure if I´ll get online of not. we´ll see. nothing too crazy going on right n now. my pc got here! and I got an email with a confirmation that some family is coming to visit in Sept! I also got a message saying that someone couldn´t come to visit, but it was with good reason, I´m going to be an "uncle" again! I´m still looking forward to other friends coming...

thats about it for now I guess. I hope that all is good on your end.

be back soon!      Matthew

 

so its the first. and I´m here.

I got the night off for fiestas, so I had some time to stop in and upload a few pics.

I see who stops in but sometimes I wonder who these people are that look at my work and read my posts... I feel I should say thanks. I also think I could apologize for being so boring... but I won´t. I amuse myself here.

until next time. M

© Published at 17:33 ( 3 comments / 86 visits )
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April 16, 08

we are the music makers and we are the dreamers of the dreams...

well, the latest batch is up for all to see.

I want to write. but I need to get out of here... I was talking to my mom and uploading and I still haven´t written the email to Lindsay! I´ve been here 4 hours. when I can write from home I´ll be better off.

I have to move some files too... but its going to wait. its nice out and the sun is going to go down on my day off soon.

I have 10% of my limit left. lets see what it hold for another day.

I´ll write that email to you soon Linds, maybe tomorrow with Janire between work. Maria I´ve written you about 5 I´ll write you soons, Sorry. I´m a bit of a mess. Jarod, thanks for that message... time doesn´t stop so try and write me again before its been another 3 months.

Hasta ahorra!      Matthew

 

 

 

© Published at 16:54 ( 1 comment / 82 visits )
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April 12, 08

I was trying but it never finished...

no pictures this time.

I´m late and the pc seemed to forget about the pictures it was suposed to be uploading. tomorrow maybe.

also, I have friends and they are cool.

more soon.     M

-edit- turns out I was wrong.... it got 2 out of 15 up... wow.

© Published at 15:32 ( 2 comments / 77 visits )
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April 9, 08

a few more posts and something funny for you to read...

I was forwarded this a long time ago and got a good laugh out of it. I was recently looking at some things online and came across the original myself and thought I could share...

hope you like it!

you know you´ve lived in Spain when...

1) You think adding lemonade, fanta or even coke to red wine is a good idea.

2) You can't get over how early bars & clubs shut back home - surely they're shutting just as you should be going out?

3) You aren't just surprised that the plumber/decorator has turned up on time, you're surprised he turned up at all.

4) You've been part of a botellon.

5) You think it's fine to comment on everyone's appearance. And to openly stare at strangers.

6) Not giving every new acquaintance dos besos seems so rude.

7) You're shocked by people getting their legs out at the first hint of sun - surely they should wait until at least late June?

8) On msn you sometimes type 'jajaja' instead of 'hahaha'

9) You think that aceite de oliva is a vital part of every meal. And don't understand how anyone could think olive oil on toast is weird.

10) You're amazed when TV ad breaks last less than half an hour, especially right before the end of films.

11) You forget to say please when asking for things - you implied it in your tone of voice, right?

12) You love the phenomenon of giving 'toques' - but hate explaining it in English

14) You don't see sunflower seeds as a healthy snack - they're just what all the cool kids eat.

15) You know what a pijo is and how to spot one.

16) Every sentence you speak contains at least one of these words: 'bueno,' 'coño,' 'vale,' 'venga,' 'pues nada'...

17) You know what a 'resaca' is.

18) You know how to eat boquerones.

19) A bull's head on the wall of a bar isn't a talking point for you, it's just a part of the decor.

20) You eat lunch after 2pm & would never even think of having your evening meal before 9.

21) You know that after 2pm there's no point in going shopping, you might as well just have a siesta until 5 when the shops re-open.

22) If anyone insults your mother, they better watch out...

23) You know how to change a bombona. And if you don't, you were either lazy or lucky enough to live somewhere nice.

24) It's not rude to answer the intercom to your flat by asking 'Quien?' (or maybe that was just my flatmate...)

25) You don't accept beer that's anything less than ice-cold.

26) You know Bimbo isn't a slutty woman, it's a make of 'pan de molde' (which, incidentally, isn't mouldy)

27) The sound of mopeds in the background is the soundtrack to your life.

28) You know that the mullet didn't just happen in the 80s. It is alive and well in Spain.

29) You know the difference between cojones and cajones, tener calor and estar caliente, bacalao and bakalao, pollo and polla, estar hecho polvo and echar un polvo...and maybe you learned the differences the hard way!

30) On some Sunday mornings you sometimes have breakfast before going to bed, not after you get up.

31) You don't see anything wrong with having a couple of beers before lunch if you feel like it.

32) Floors in certain bars are an ideal dumping ground for your colillas, servilletas etc. Why use a bin?!

33) You see clapping as an art form, not just a way to express approval.

34) You know ensaladilla rusa has nothing to do with Russia.

35) When you burst out laughing every time you see a Mitsubishi Pajero (thanks Stuart Line for reminding me of that one!)

36) You have friends named Jesus, Jose Maria, Maria Jose, Angel, maybe even Inmaculada Concepcion...

37) You know that 'ahora' doesn't really mean now. Hasta ahora, ahora vuelvo...etc

38)When you make arrangements to meet friends at 3, the first person turns up at 3.15...if you're lucky!

39) Central heating is most definitely a foreign concept. In winter, you just huddle around the heater under the table & pull the blanket up over your knees...and sleep with about 5 blankets on your bed! (OK I accepot this is probably just in the south!)

40) When you laugh, you don't laugh your head off - te partas de risa.

41) Aceite de oliva is 'muy sano', of course. So you help yourself to a bit more.

42)When women think that clear bra straps are in fact invisible.

43) When it's totally normal for every kitchen to have a deep-fat fryer but no kettle.

44) Te cagas en la leche....

45) To avoid that cheap Eristoff vodka you have to ask for 'un esmirnoff'

46) When you know what a guiri is / have been called one

47) When you add 'super' in front of any adjective for emphasis

48) Blonde girls actually start to think their name is 'rubia'

49) When you accept that paying with a 50 euro note is going to get you a dirty look if you're buying something that costs less than 40 euros

50) If something is great, it's 'de puta madre'

51) You can eat up to 5 times a day - first breakfast, 2nd breakfast around 11.30, almuerzo, merienda, cena

52) You know the jingle for Los Cuarenta Principales...

53) If you see someone wearing a T-shirt with something written on it in English, you can almost guarantee it won't make sense. (Pebble Night was a personal favourite)

54) When you go into a bank/bakery etc, it's standard practice to ask 'Quien es la ultima?'

55) Who needs a dryer when you have a washing line outside the window of your apartment?

56) You know what 'marcha' and 'juerga' are.

57) You are more likely to call your friends tio/a, nena, chaval, macho or even tronco than their real name.

58) Love it or hate it, you can't escape reggaeton.

59) You answer the phone by saying 'Yes', (well, or 'Tell me') and when identifying yourself you say 'I'm...' not 'It's...'. But when you try those tactics back home, everyone thinks you're mad or rude!

60) You carry on buying UHT milk when you get back home and your friends think this is disgusting but you can't understand their point of view.

61) Jamon, jamon y mas jamon....
(Can't say this was my favourite thing, being a a vegetarian and all, but I agree it's very much part of Spanish life!)

62) If you eat a lot of something, you're not going to 'turn into' it, you're going to 'get the face of it,' e.g 'te vas a poner cara de chocolate.' Somehow a lot more amusing!

63) Drinking coffee out of a glass is entirely normal.

64) 'Son las nueve, las ocho en Canarias' is how you are used to hearing radio DJs announce the time

65) You've been to your local town's feria/fiesta/semana santa

----------------------------------------

so, I´m sure that things are going.

see you soon,   Matthew

 

 

© Published at 12:16 ( 0 comments / 49 visits )
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April 1st, 08

willing to travel the farthest to unravel the harvest...

here I am again.

a few more picture and emails...

I went to the embassy today. seems my situation isn´t going to change anytime soon.

I´ve been inside too long, so as much as I would like to write more right now, it my day off and it really nice out. I have weather to enjoy. I´ll be back in a couple days with a few more goodies for you to see.

so, enjoy your day,          Matthew

© Published at 13:39 ( 0 comments / 57 visits )
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March 27, 08

when there is no love, nothing makes you rich...

so I was walking around and found a cable that was cheap. so now I can upload pictures. now the problem is, I'm at my limit for the month on my uploads. I hope that they are enjoyed...

I've been writing emails.

and I guess I really don't know what to say anymore. I'm hungry. maybe because I haven't eaten since breakfast this morning. I should fix that sometime soon, at least thats what my stomach seems to think.

I need to write a few things down first. then I'm going to check out a couple restaurants in the area...

looking forward to the 1st.

keep in touch,     Matthew

 

 

 

 

 

© Published at 17:24 ( 0 comments / 52 visits )
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March 25, 08

sometimes you´ve got step outside if you want to know how the weather feels...

so since I can´t upload pictures cause my little friend is on a trip with Janire and her mom to a warm beachy island, I thought that I would write a bit. I switched the memory card but I don´t seem to have anything to plug in. I figured out how I could look at some pics to upload more organized like.

the guy next to me is foreign. heavy cologne. and looking at a magazine to fill out his profile to find a nice guy friend. good luck.

yeah, so for until Sat I´ve got the place to myself if anyone wants to come over on Thursday, I´ll throw the party... I got a few bottles of wine and I know how to cook. let me know...

what else.... hmmm.... AH! the topic of vacation has come up a couple of times today. I think that my month off is either going to be august or september, but I don´t know what the plan is yet. I think that if I´m still working there, I´ll take the time to look for a new place to be employed.

man, its 8 already... I guess I got here later than I thought.

let me rephrase my question... what food must you have when you see it? makes your mouth water and your tummy growl... berries are yummy. easy too. I got a good size list I´m working on, but I need more. and things that make me think of how to look at it a little differently. don´t be shy. I know you people like to eat! and I know that most of you would take the fresh squeezed OJ over the bottled stuff if you weren´t so lazy. so write! I´ve been doing a good amount of it myself. I´m kicking around a few ideas, one for the book, and one for the walls. I think that I have some good ones too even.

I got a new book the other day. its called Lamb by this guy Chris Moore (I wonder if he would be insulted if he knew I shortened his name, like we´re chums or something.) its funny stuff. its the gospel told from the veiwpoint of Jesus´ best pal. the guy is a little twisted. but he makes me laugh.

I have to write some stuff down and get going... I´ve got a good idea that hit me a couple days ago but I didn´t write it down and I forgot it until now.

til next time!      Matthew

 

 

 

 

© Published at 19:29 ( 0 comments / 51 visits )
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March 14, 08

I tried... (edited)

I was tryingto put up some photos but I think that between multitasking emails and other sites I lost my ability to focus. I´ll likely be online on sunday to see if I can´t get somewhere then.

I still need to send an email.

and I just remembered I forgot something at home. I need a post it for my forehead.

things are as good and as bad as they seem. and that goes for you too. I think that I´m ok with it though. cause if they are as good as they seem, then they can´t be that bad.

Jarod, if you ever email me or come on here. happy birthday. I´m not sending you an email.

I´ll be back soon, the packages are still on my shelf. you´ll get them all soon. or more likely, when I get paid. I hope.

can everyong tell me a favorite food or ingredient? I´ve been brainstorming but lately its been partly sunny, so my ideas only come in peices. I need a spark.

I need to get moving.

thanks!

 

 

 

 

-edit-

Sunday:

 ok, so here I am, a little more focused but with more things to do and just as stressed. I did manage to get a few more photos up. and search the web. and chat a little. I fixed my last upload too. pat me on the back!

not much more to update I don´t think. I´m going out tomorrow with the hopes to get a job on the spot somewhere. if anyone knows a good, place in Madrid thats looking for a cocinero let me know.

in my searches online, I didn´t find anywhere I really want to work, but I did find places that I want to go to eat. that should be slightly easier... well all but the few that may be out of my price range. another day.

I got a new phone, so if you call me, the battery shouldn´t die. its a fun little toy. and when my PC arrives I´ll be able to post you some pictures and videos from it as well.

hmmm....

well, I´m stumped. I´m going to get going maybe I´ll post a few picks again tomorrow in between errands. hope to hear from you soon!

thanks again,   Matthew

 

 

© Published at 19:03 ( 1 comment / 69 visits )
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March 4, 08

check out the post!

I took a video clip the other day and the memory card had popped loose... so it was nice and easy to find to put it up. I have others that are sure to get a laugh, but this kid. you´ll see!

it´s later than I thought.. not to mention typing is hard because of my finger. I´ll be around later in the week.

enjoy and take care,   M

 

© Published at 21:17 ( 0 comments / 88 visits )
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February 25, 08

that´ll do it....

I just hit 99% on my limit.

there are a few vacation pics up... and more to come when the month changes.

also I think that in the next month I´ll be organizing stuff on my PC so that my uploads are more, well, organized. and hopefully more enjoyable. I picked the site because I wanted to post more than pictures and I haven´t really been able to do that... I´m looking forward to it.

drop me a line, let me know what you think...

be well,

Matthew

© Published at 15:51 ( 0 comments / 82 visits )
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February 24, 08

so here I am.

too long, I know.

I´ve been busy, then I was relaxing, and now here I am.

so I won the trip to Amsterdam, but since I´m not so legal it was decided that taking a plane wasn´t very smart. getting deported didn´t sit well. after talking to my boss and making sure he understood that if he sent me there he may not have a cook coming back. he agreed that it was probably better that I not go there right now. so trapped in the country we talked a bit about where in Spain to go/send me. so the trip changed to Malaga. its in the South on the coast of the Mediterranean Sea. it was nice. it rained a little but it was 4 days without work and bouncing for food to shops to cafes. we went to the beach, and to a castle. I have pictures but I´m afaid you won´t see them for another 125ish posts. so I´ll try to keep posting and make sure that I get more pictures up before the end of the month so that I don´t hit my limit when I get to them.

on the topic of pictures. I like them again. I´m going to try and make something of importance. something that can maybe make some money. I have ideas. and I want to take them. I want to play. I´m on track to getting my PC I think, which would help. invent and have fun. I wish I could say the same for my job. I don´t like it. so, since I took my trip, I´m going to start looking for a new one. I could use something better. something yummier. something that probably wants me to have papers. whatever. something new.

so how are things with you?

anyone have their passport yet?

travel plans?

 no really, someone has to be planning something. let me know!

I´m off for now, I´ve been in this chair too long.

thanks, Matthew

 

 

© Published at 19:17 ( 0 comments / 40 visits )
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January 31, 08

switch it up....

usually I write a bit when I´m done downloading pictures and writing emails and stuff. today I´m here and I´m going to write a little something to get me going and see what I have left later.

I´ve been sick. fever and dying sick, I guess. I ate a couple cookies this AM with my perscribed ¨lemonade¨. so I´m doing better. I ate, I´m out, and I can think a little about where I am and how to function so things are good.

my talk with my boss didn´t go well, or it went fine. but I guess I realized that I don´t think I like what I´m doing and I don´t really like him. he seems sneaky. fake. I think I see through it... so I went into work and we talked, about two things mostly. the first was papers... I waited 20 mins outside for him to get to work and like I said I felt fiesty. so I went in with the guns out, ¨hear anything about papers?¨ his response wasn´t what I was looking for... I work there for 2-3 years while he works it out or I stay how I am and leave when I want. next, about the fact that his chef left and that Jota is going to take over and the void it leaves and to position I think that I can handle and would like to work for. not that I can handle it.... no, its that Jota was out with his shoulder dislocated for 20 days, 15 of which there was no chef. I was getting leaned on already. go in and do my prep and he would call downstairs for me... heres more work to do, delagate it. well, his response to that was also unsatisfactory, ¨I´ll think about it and we can talk in a couple weeks¨. I felt like if that couple of weeks was like the couple of weeks when he would talk to me about my papers (2 months) or his vacation to ny for new years (14 days). If I know my chef is leaving (for 3 months) and my sous chef was hurt and out for who knows how long, I probably postpone my vacation. but he did nothing... so after our talk I decided it was time to strat to look for the next job. because it seems he will always do nothing. I think I can cook the same ot better food somewhere else. work less hours and get paid better.

then I got sick. I´m going to get back on track with the job thing when I´m back on my feet. of course I don´t want to leave until after I take the trip I won. the holiday party left me with a 2 nights trip (flight and hotel) in Amsterdam. huh...

I´m planning on watching the superbowl on sunday, anyone else? :)

not sure what else at the moment....

I´mma play with some photos and I´ll edit if I think of anything. if not, I hope all is well, take care,

Matthew

 

 -edit-

PS I just hit capacity for the month. good thing tomorrow is the first!

also I have videos but they are always put at the end of the file list. and music I want to post but no real means of doing so. I can´t DL straight from an Ipod so I need to use a USB card or something with music but I don´t have a PC to pull from and if I did, I wouldn´t be sitting next to this crazy asian guy that is talking super loud because of his headphones! but I´m working on that... I just need a month or two.

 

 

 

 

© Published at 17:39 ( 1 comment / 110 visits )
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January 15, 08

no chef? no problem.

theres no segundo either...

just me and a kid that speaks chi-anish.

I have more pictures to post.

I edited the stuff I put up last time I was on...

but then I got caught up in emails.

I have a few things to tell you all about too.

but I don´t have time. I have to get going back to work.

I´m thinking Friday, as long as my AM shift goes well.

todays did, but I think that tonight is the night I ¨talk¨ to my boss.

I´m feeling fiesty...

keep your fingers crossed!

bye for now,

M

© Published at 18:54 ( 0 comments / 109 visits )
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