In Your ocean I'm ankle deep

So, I'm really not making a rule of blogging just once a week, but that's just the way it has worked out over the last few weeks. I will try to give updates at least once a week though, so my mom won't freak out and think that I'm dead. Once again, this week did not involve any traveling and was one of the more tranquil weeks I've had since coming here.

Eminem and I
What does one of the world's most popular and offensive rappers have in common with me? Well, I hope very little. Still, there's at least one definite similarity. Some might argue it's a unique brand of irresistability (my game is futility); some would say it's a talent for making rhyme (all the time); some might say it's thinking on their feet (without missing a beat). Regardless, I find myself in opposition to these propositions whose imposition is naught but fiction. Okay, I'll stop that now. But I don't know how. Argh, no more rhymes, and I mean it. Anybody want a peanut?

Okay really, what on earth is this all about? What do I have in common with Eminem? Answer: 8 Mile. Eminem made it a movie; I made it a jog. All this to say that this morning (like 30 minutes ago) I ran 8 miles in accordance with my training program. It feels good because that is a distance that 2 months ago I would have gaped at and despaired. I actually still gaped at it today, but I made it. I'd like to thank my leg muscles for not rebelling, the rest of my body for not cramping unbearably, my iPod for inspirational music, and the weather for holding off the rain. This is a good milestone, but there's much more to go. 8 miles was I struggle; I need 13.1. We'll see!

Marisol Has Jokes
So, my senora thinks she is hilarious. And in a way, she is. But what's really funny to me is what she finds entertaining. To me, her sense of humor is like a small child's (or old man's) in that repetition does not diminish the humor one bit. For example, the vice president of Spain is an older lady with an odd haircut. Every time she shows up on the news, Marisol says, "Oh, look! The chicken. Look at her hair. She looks like a chicken. How ugly!" The chicken comment seems to just get better every time (...not!). This weekend was a new experience though. This time when the VP shows up on TV, Marisol went through the typical "Look...chicken...ugly" mantra, but this time she was inspired. She then proceeded to say, "Look, Thomas, this is how she looks." What happened next was a Kodak moment. Marisol puffed out her cheeks (already puffy enough due to the fact that she is a little heavy...okay, she's just downright obese) and crossed her eyes. Actually, she failed at crossing her eyes about 3 times and then finally got them crossed to complete the spectacle. Wow.

Another humorous note: One of the other senoras with the UNC program lives in the same building as Marisol and I...I think her name is Antonia. Anyhow, Danya (who lives with Antonia) told me that her senora said that one of her favorite things in the world was seeing me and Marisol together because "he is so tall and skinny and she is so short and fat!" I daresay, although I'm not sure if I like that commentary or not, we probably do look really goofy when we walk side by side.

High/Low
In weeks of normal life, when adventures are fewer and further between, I like to go to the High/Low--a sort of summary of the best and worst of this week.

THE BEST
-> Contact with friends. I've gotten to hear from several this week, and that's always a blessing. Most notably, perhaps, is that I got to skype with Rachel and plan our visit to Florence/Milan! I'm really excited...that's less than a month away!
-> Blue Like Jazz- If you haven't read it, I would highly recommend it. It's written by Donald Miller, an author with a personal, stream-of-consciousness style of writing who relates stories and lessons from his life and his path to faith from a point of view not at all like the holier-than-thou fundamentalist rants that one may be accustomed to.
-> Yesterday was my sister Mary's birthday! It's hard to believe she is 15. I really wish I could spend more time with both her and Deborah...they're growing and changing, and I see that every time I get to come home and visit from UNC. I think it a shame I can't be around more often to see them, but I'm looking forward to being at home this summer and getting that chance.
-> Yesterday I also went to see Avatar...in Spanish. The movie had interested me, but I never saw it before, and I was bored enough that when Marisol invited me I was more than happy to go. It was a good movie...worth seeing (if for no other reason) simply for the special effects. They were mind-boggling and I'd have to say it was a one-of-a-kind film.
-> Churros con chocolate. It finally happened...I went to Virgen de los Reyes and had some churros. They were wonderful. If you don't know what a 'churro' is, it is much like a funnel cake only the dough comes out more pastry-like and is shaped in large, cylindrical pieces. Mmm-mm.
THE REST
-> Let me check...yep still rainy on most days. It's alright today, but I know it'll just get cloudy again. And forecasts say...oh, guess what? More rain for next week.
-> My senora still has no concept of timeliness. Meals scheduled for 2:30? Anywhere from 2:45-4 pm. Meals scheduled for 9? 9:30 at the earliest. As if they aren't already late enough, haha. All the same, the food is pretty good, pretty good indeed.
-> I'm finding out that my schedule is a little more spread out than I like. The biggest chunk of time I have to do stuff is in the mornings, and after the morning, my day just gets consumed. It's not like I'm busy all the time, but my time is just not consolidated, and I have to be pretty proactive if I'm gonna do something that takes more than 30 mins.
-> Can someone please tell Spain about Boberry Biscuits, Cookout trays, and SWEET TEA? Just give one to President Zapatero. I can see it now: he'd jump up and shout "SANTA MARIA! QUE SABOR! QUE ASOMBROSO!" And they'd be available all over Spain within a week. It's a plan I'm going to submit to Unhealthy Food Inc. (or whoever owns these glorious franchises) in the near future.

Well, another week down. 3 weeks until the half marathon (*cue Chariots of Fire music*). 4 weeks until Milan/Florence. 4 and a half weeks until my family visits. A lot to look forward to, for sure. Peace be with you all!