Hhhmmmmmmmm...........

Day 22

November 1 is a national holiday, Día de Todos Los Santos. 90% of Spain admits to being Catholic in theory, but 0% admits to being catholic in practice. So today just means everyone is playing hookie from school and work. These holidays might sound awesome, a Monday off here, a Thursday off there, but really, they’re miserable. EVERYTHING closes down. So the grocery run you were hoping to make, not happening. It’s closed. The window shopping you wanted to do. Curtains are drawn. The bank account you wanted to set up, not happening, money is on lockdown. The Picasso museum you wanted to wander through, no peeking today. The café you wanted to go mooch wifi off of, home for the holiday. Find your own java fix. So wandering the streets, friendless and penniless with nothing to do and nowhere to go, I am the American ex-pat hobo. Initially the day began as an epic photo tour of the city, snapping shots of everything to show the gang at home. But of course, the camera battery died after 30 minutes. And of course, the convience shop is closed for the holiday. So I just wander.

And I do laundry.

And now I’m back in my apartment, watching my shirts flail in the wind, slightly anxious that they might fly away, listening to podcasts. I never thought I would EVER say this, but I have TOO much free time. I know that this in an incomprehensible concept to any school child, free time…was that the time before I was born? No no guys, its life after graduating from college. I’m remarkably good company, but I’m starting to feel like a leech to myself. I’d like someone else than Me or I to chat with, to ruminate with, to joke with or to chide the Spanish with, someone else who’ll buy my café, someone else who’ll laugh at my jokes, someone else who’ll cook dinner, someone else who’ll pose thoughtful questions to consider on the beach at sunset.

Today was so lame street stop light juggling pins man wasn’t even there.

I’m sure that tomorrow I’ll wake up and realize the hugely important thing I forgot to take care of. And I’ll have to rush and do a half-ass job on it. But that’s tomorrow. Why start to kick myself now just because I have the time? For now, it’s just me and my wet clothes lounging around, wondering if I should brush my teeth, again.