a ten-minute dream in the passenger seat

Today it was cloudy and rainy in Barcelona, but I had a good time. I ran 5K at the gym in the morning, ate delicious falafel for lunch with a friend, went to the Picasso Museum for free with another friend, and then came back home to do some light homework and eat dinner.

Essentially, my experience here so far is a series of fluctuations between absolute frustration and perfect satisfaction. The bad days are really bad, and the good days are really good. I'm still feeling everything I wrote in the previous entry, but today was a good day in that I spent time with people whose company I actually enjoy, did new things, and tried not to worry so much.

Tomorrow begins week 3 of classes. Next Saturday, I'll have been here for officially one month. That's sort of hard to believe.

Weekend #?? of summer was a good one. It involved various escapades, including a viewing of HP:OotP, a trip to Chicago to see Blue Man Group, buying a comforter (thus ending the week-long comforter vs. quilt debate), and a lot of loafing.

Let's see. ( I really liked HP:OotP. ) Annnnd now I'm basically peeing my pants in anticipation of the book.

The Blue Man Group was fantasmic! The last time I saw them I was 10 or 11, so I appreciated a lot of the humor more this time around. They mocked internet cafes, internet slang (rofluipasm = rolling on the floor laughing until I puke and soil myself), and modern art. My uncle got to throw stuff for one of the Blue Men to catch in his mouth, and then the dude spat it out in his (my uncle's) hand! Pretty B.A. stuff.

The part of Chicago where my uncle lives is actually a really cool place. Because I spent so much time in the Loop for orchestra, that's what I think of when I think of Chicago. But his neighborhood is pretty, quiet, and has everything you need within walking distance. Which is really neat, and what I'd like to find in a city somewhere, someday.

Annnd yeah. Last night I was struck with an intense desire to do some reflective writing, which was strange and wonderful all at once. I haven't had one of those feelings in so long. Too bad I was too tired to really act on it. I put up a new layout today, code from thefulcrum, image by me. Hurrah for simple header images and words!

I am home. Good old home.

I miss things, though. Like Grinnell kids. And my cell phone (which I stupidly left on my desk in my dorm room). And M-town college kids I haven't yet seen.

Tonight, though, I heard Christmas carols and ate too much cheap pizza and saw a bunch of people I love. Can't get much better than that.

EXCEPT that it can! For I am visiting Augustana kids tomorrow! :) This is going to be a great weekend, I can feel it already.