Back from the USSR
My long-awaited yearly vacation is now over, and it’s the first time I wasn’t eagerly awaiting to get back home and get busy with the minutiae of work and everyday life. Giving my propensity to get depressed after vacations, I’m not sure I can handle the impressive vacation schedule of the average spaniard, which basically means one month vacation per year, plus 15 mandatory holidays. After discovering that people in this country take up to 45 days off per year, I wasn’t surprised to see the news on TV that people were prone to be afflicted by post-vacation stress syndrome, AKA the “Why do I have to go back to work?” syndrome. I’m surprised the suicide rate is what it is, and not 25x higher. Me, given that I brought back one of the many indigenous viruses that assaulted my immune system during my stay, I’ll at least have real reason to not want to get back to work. Nothing says “fun” like a 39° fever, and having to explain to somebody that no, I don’t order printer toners, and that if they ran out and didn’t have a spare, it’s nobody’s fault but theirs.
First world, my ass. Stupidity is universal.
Vacation happenings:
Going to the Apple store in Aventura Mall, asking for a 4Gb iPod Nano, and getting back a disbelieving glance and a “How many? Just one?”. I’m sure my Dirty American Devil t-shirt might have misled him into thinking I was more economically affluent than I really am. Or maybe he expected me to answer “You know what, I’ll take two instead”. In any case, his reply is just strange. I’ll take it as a compliment.
Of all the places in the world, meeting the best friend of an ex-girlfriend in a mall’s food court. On the day of my ex’s birthday. You know, I’m not buying any of this “large metropolis” crap anymore. When I first got to Spain, I bumped into my best friend’s parents while walking down the street. The problem is, they live in another continent. After witnessing those coincidences, yeah, I believe somebody out there can win the lottery. Maybe I should start buying it.
The clerk at the Quicksilver store, doing his best to reinforce the stoner surfer stereotype: “Yeah man, we don’t have those in stock. The ones there totally came in today, so, like, bummer”.
Watching a movie starring Lil’ Bow Wow in a movie theater in the so-called “black neighbourhood”. This is an experience I have to recommend. It’s also got one of the best movie soundtracks I’ve heard in a while, and the antagonist is called “Sweetness”. Oh yeah, and Wayne Brady in a kick-ass ‘fro. Good times, good times.
Now, if you’ll excuse me, I have a fever to purge, and a depression to get over… It was nice seeing everybody again, and to those that didn’t show up: shame on you. Maybe next time…
heh.
Blind Willie wrote:
Yeah, shame on me alright. (That is, assuming I’m one of “those” that didn’t show up). I was looking forward to talk some shit with you, but the same afflictions that caused your fever attacked my wife, which meant I had to take care of the little one, who of course, had the flu, virus or whatever, too.
Anyway, I’ll try to arrange a meeting myself next time.
Cool t-shirt.
Posted 27 Sep 2005 at 6:21 pm ¶
nashira wrote:
And by “the little one” you mean…?
(I’m just helping you here, Compadre, not all of them know you have a son.)
Posted 27 Sep 2005 at 9:14 pm ¶
Blind Willie wrote:
Good thing you cleared that up.
Posted 27 Sep 2005 at 9:31 pm ¶
alvarete wrote:
I was aware of the kid situation and, if he hasn’t cut his hair, he’s cute as a basketful of kittens. Unless he did, in which case he might just be as cute as a single kitten playing with a rolled-up sock, which is still borderline illegal in communist countries, I hear…
Roll Bounce = best movie ever.
Brothas yelling “OH SNAP!” at the movie screen = fantabulous.
Posted 27 Sep 2005 at 9:33 pm ¶
Chase Ransom wrote:
How about the time the dad takes the job as a janitor and you hear a lady in the back say “thats a damn shame”.
I havea pocket full of commentary from that movie. I LOVE IT!
F it.
Posted 28 Sep 2005 at 1:27 pm ¶
Chase Ransom wrote:
Btw, I am devastated that Mr Cranky hasnt given his two cents on Roll Bounce. Does he consider it not worthy of critique?
Sigh
Posted 30 Sep 2005 at 3:34 pm ¶
alvarete wrote:
It stars Lil’ Bow Wow and Nick Cannon. I, on principle, would refuse to review any movies with actors whose name begins with “Lil’”…
Posted 01 Oct 2005 at 9:07 am ¶