It's Beginning to Look a lot like... Trash.

In case you weren't aware (though I've been talking about it a lot) there is a trash strike going on in Madrid now. So for the last week or two, trash has slowly been piling up on the streets and in the dumpters (and around the dumpsters once they were full). It finally FINALLY ended on Sunday (12 days long) but that just means it's going back to the normal schedule, and our trash doesn't get picked up until Thursdays (I think). The point of all this is that everything smells. 

So, over the last couple of weeks, life has been pretty normal. I have settled into a decent routine here, and particularly since I'm doing National Novel Writing Month, I find I have less time to just sit and be bored. I go to open mic nights, I watch movies with friends and roommates, I write and write and write. 

Exactly two weeks ago (I know because it was the night I was writing my blog) my phone was stolen at a bar, so I've been trying to get used to my crappy new Spanish smart phone. It is sufficient for my purposes, I guess. 

Sunday, I went to see Ender's Game in the cinema! And I saw it in the original version, not dubbed! (There were Spanish subtitles on the screen, but I could ignore them for the most part). It was SO GOOD. I really want to read the books again, now. 

Every other Sunday is Open Mic Night at Cafe de la Palma, and Steve and Melanie played this Sunday. They really rock my world on a regular basis; both are so talented and so gracious. Very good musicians and even better friends! 

And today, my class went to a theatre in the area to watch Alice in Wonderland, in both Spanish and (bad) English. It was so boring. Like, I have not been that bored in a long time. The kids around me were talking or falling asleep and I did not even care. I wanted to sleep, too! I would rather have taught them stuff they did not already know in science (but of course, they would always prefer field trips to science class). 

The weather here is basically the same as in Missouri, high of 45 and lows of a little below freezing, with rain. But while Missouri will get a lot colder, we're pretty much where we're going to be for the rest of the winter. At least that's what I've been lead to believe. 

Friday, I went to the mall and spent two hours searching for some knee high black boots. I tried on every pair I could find, just because I have really wanted some for a while. Finally got them! And they are beautiful, believe me. Now I just need to get some more actual fall/winter clothes, since I've just been layoring to deal with the cold.

I'm also getting really excited for Thanksgiving, since some friends and I will be celebrating together (including two Brits, I know...) So, sorry if this week is boring, but I guess that's my life now! Maybe I'll go somewhere crazy this weekend... 

Ciao!