tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-76032886254428648962011-09-08T12:41:59.606+02:00A change in life for "El Americano"Spencernoreply@blogger.comBlogger861100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7603288625442864896.post-65655034821270120392009-11-05T13:15:00.003+01:002009-11-05T17:56:40.140+01:00

I do not like to generalize people as a whole. We are all individuals, yet there are some traits that bind us together as a group. Whether that group is Republicans, Blacks, Europeans, female drivers...there is some running joke, true or not, believable or not, that characterizes us and places us in that group. To not be outdone, the Spanish have their own group and one characterization is

Spencernoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7603288625442864896.post-45231569601195111012009-10-09T10:04:00.006+02:002009-10-09T18:10:57.817+02:00

When I opened my eyes this morning, I felt a bit inspired to write a little this morning. As I searched in my mind for something worthy of writing, I felt that I had nothing really entertaining to say. I would imagine this is called writer's block. But I find if I just start typing, even if it is meaningless and dull, it helps to work out all the cobwebs in my right brain and get me flowing

Spencernoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7603288625442864896.post-34513598918755260582009-09-16T10:38:00.008+02:002009-09-30T10:20:43.914+02:00

One aspect to learning a culture is to intertwine oneself into the culture to see how the people feel in general about topics we Americans may take for granted. I feel it safe to say that the whole Palestine v. Israel conflict has shed a new light on itself after talking with the people and seeing how the media portrays the situation. The ideal of kids leaving the home, marriage, having kids

Spencernoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7603288625442864896.post-24919922137210270142009-08-25T23:44:00.006+02:002009-08-27T10:21:06.190+02:00

I have now become the portal to everything Spain for my American friends and family. I now carry the honor of being the virtual Wikipedia for those who don't have the drive and the time to get a library card or catch the web cast of Spain on the National Geographic web site. I feel like I am the modern day Marco Polo, set to bring back paper from the new world. Ok I am going overboard but why

Spencernoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7603288625442864896.post-9334291939032721562009-05-03T13:34:00.002+02:002009-05-03T13:40:37.470+02:00

I have finally calmed a bit so I can tell this story. Before, I was a bit livid and unsettled but now that I seem to have calmed to the point of not having homicidal thoughts, I can write with my usual random and stray thoughts rather than a dark, focused and angry humor. So if I seem to go off point and fly off the path of true enlightenment…well that is normal.So we have been without a car

Spencernoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7603288625442864896.post-4080734619310289192009-03-16T19:02:00.006+01:002009-03-23T10:30:19.455+01:00

There are just some things in life you wish to avoid. I, on the other hand, have been waiting for moments like this. Being a father, and not having the father figure in my life that I always wanted and like the one I am trying to be (which is not a cut to my step father but still a bitter signal to my biological one). My stepfather tried only how he knew how. Coming from long line of

Spencernoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7603288625442864896.post-80245439693316261532009-03-05T13:34:00.002+01:002009-03-07T23:55:04.415+01:00

Who says soccer is not a dangerous sport. And what I am learning and remembering about boys aged 16 to 18 kids that the coursing of testosterone thru their forming bodies can lead to some explosive results (no pun intended).Just like any soccer league in the world, there are always rivals and long histories between teams that may date back to before most of these kids were born. Our main rivals

Spencernoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7603288625442864896.post-53864895741086906552009-03-04T18:36:00.006+01:002009-03-05T13:29:30.051+01:00

Near the end of February, many places around the world celebrate Carnival season. Carnival comes in all forms but for the most part, it is a celebration filled with intensely decorated floats, dancers, loud music and beautiful costumes. Spain is no different and each city seemingly has it's parade of colorful processions to fill even the narrowest of streets. But depending on the town will

Spencernoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7603288625442864896.post-15259826720620007752009-02-01T22:04:00.004+01:002009-02-02T00:52:54.677+01:00

So I marked today on my calendar. It was not a day I was looking forward to. but still it was a day that needed to come. No, it is not the end of the world, no test results coming back and no it is not some Spanish Holiday for tall good looking Black men. But it is kind of the end of the world and some testing will be in place. Some time ago, for a good 6 years, I have hidden the fact that I

Spencernoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7603288625442864896.post-85044763378652665872009-01-24T21:50:00.004+01:002009-01-25T09:42:15.590+01:00

Times are hard for all of us. I mean it is not the Great Depression of the 40's, but for our generation, we became adults in the 90's and (whether he was your vote or not) we enjoyed the financial stability Clinton's administration brought about. Carme and I hear about our friends feeling the effects of a slowing economy back in the states...and we are full of stories about how money is

Spencernoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7603288625442864896.post-77755245690543441292008-11-10T10:38:00.002+01:002008-11-10T15:43:08.404+01:00

I am so trying to enjoy my day after my soccer team won last night's game (7-2) and I was the only coach on the bench. We played against Histolaric at home but I knew this team has not done well in the first 9 games of the season. Still I was nervous about my Spanish and the referee did not make it easy.We have a book with the player's paperwork in. Each player and coach is documented to play

Spencernoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7603288625442864896.post-53963471499547312162008-11-04T12:44:00.002+01:002008-11-04T15:31:56.643+01:00

The other day, Alex and I were sharing some quality time in front of the TV. To most, I am sure this is not the ideal quality time to be shared between a father and a son, but we had just settled into the house on a cold and rainy day after sharing lunch with his grandparents. For most who do not know, the lunch time meal, especially on a Sunday, is a heavier meal than the others and we were

Spencernoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7603288625442864896.post-5617539877093517672008-11-01T10:09:00.003+01:002008-11-01T12:42:23.384+01:00

Another thing I miss...Halloween in the states. The people of Tossa have been celebrating Halloween for about 3 years now. I am not sure where this holiday came from but I suspect many years of seeing American movies as well as the influx of UK citizens who have relocated to this warmer part of Europe had something to do with the influence on this town. I cannot say much about neighboring

Spencernoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7603288625442864896.post-698939814957989942008-10-19T21:40:00.002+02:002008-10-24T02:18:16.872+02:00

I always say you are not who you think you are but what people think of you. If you are tall you don't know you are tall until short people decide to let you know every chance they get. If people are prejudice towards a group of people, they are going to treat them as if they would normally trat other members of that group. Growing up in the the south I had my fair reminders of some of the

Spencernoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7603288625442864896.post-37855331739347274052008-08-26T10:48:00.005+02:002008-08-26T17:24:12.181+02:00

This is the first time I have spent in another country, seeing the Olympics thru another media's eyes. As Americans, we are characterized as having an untouchable national pride. Sure we have out internal conflicts, as long as there are two humans on Earth, there will be conflict. But when our nation competes against other nations, we become rabid animals and pool together as one nation.

Spencernoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7603288625442864896.post-84145169524966260802008-08-24T17:04:00.002+02:002008-08-24T19:43:26.963+02:00

I was asked before I left the states, what I thought I would miss from America. I firmly answered the smell of cut grass. Spending many years of my life enjoying the summers of North Carolina, the smell of cut summer grass is one of those things that when I smell it, I am taken back to a time of innocence and life exploration. I count this as one of my luckiest joys in life as it is miserable

Spencernoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7603288625442864896.post-40559639188290151762008-08-21T23:09:00.006+02:002008-08-23T23:36:12.303+02:00

I have never paid much attention to this song. Joan Osborne’s version or Prince's weird remake. That's right; I said Prince did something weird! But it has never been running thru my head and I will tell you why.There is this gentleman who lives here in Tossa. Let's paint a picture for you since I thought it would be rude to flash photograph him. But first, can anyone tell me the natural state of

Spencernoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7603288625442864896.post-86369503770519898812008-08-14T10:18:00.003+02:002008-08-14T10:53:35.620+02:00

ok it's time for the blood results! I was all prepared to go to the doctor alone, and it seemed one by one, Alex wanted to go and help me translate, then Carme got out of work to meet me there also. I know I have to speak the language but I am not sure if my doctor can even speak Spanish. every time I have seen her, it's been in the most rapid Catalan I have ever heard (yet never understood).

Spencernoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7603288625442864896.post-3270578455688803962008-08-08T11:28:00.004+02:002008-08-08T11:46:26.463+02:00

So something strange has happened to me in my tie here in Spain. It started a month ago but I was not too worried about it. Still Carme was concerned, as she is with me, she loves to fuss over me and i love it. Still it alarmed her enough to want me to see a doctor.A few weeks ago she noticed a patch of hair missing from my head. Located just behind my right ear, a place where I usually don't

Spencernoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7603288625442864896.post-84964076272458148092008-07-16T10:10:00.003+02:002008-07-21T11:37:53.917+02:00

Just a quick story that made me laugh...You all know I have never ridden a motorcycle but I have dreamed of getting up the guts to own ride one. Something about the open road, wind in my scalp and bugs in my teeth makes my skin shiver with excitement. Still I have not gotten up the nerve to oppose the wishes of my wife and mother. I am such a good boy.The next best thing to a roaring Harley or

Spencernoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7603288625442864896.post-20636219408702118772008-06-27T15:50:00.003+02:002008-07-05T10:58:54.397+02:00

So yesterday was my birthday. My first birthday in Spain. The day started well. nothing spectacular. Carme and Alex woke me from my sound and deep slumber and dreams of Pink, Christine and Maya singing "Lady Marmalade" to me. I know how to give my own self a birthday dream. Watching the video non stop for a week helps, too.Alex began the day with a lovely hand made card. there is something

Spencernoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7603288625442864896.post-18472460562114778262008-06-27T15:36:00.002+02:002008-06-27T15:50:34.644+02:00

That´s right, i have fallen in love. No disrespect to my wife, whom I adore dearly, but this is an attraction I cannot deny any longer. This new love of mine is full of sass, spunk and just as easy as Sunday mornings. I see her everyday, mostly after dinner but on the weekends, I have her all day long. Carme is not the least bit jealous because she and I look forward to having her together.

Spencernoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7603288625442864896.post-61200120651725010802008-06-26T23:34:00.002+02:002008-06-27T00:27:33.663+02:00

Ok I think I have had enough of Spanish Holidays. By far this is the most nerve wrecking holidays of them all. I should have headed the warning signs, but nothing prepares you for this day.Tossa is quite the small pueblo...I can`t seem to say that enough. Until you come here you cannot imagine just how small it is. I have nothing to compare it to in America. It is literally impossible to

Spencernoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7603288625442864896.post-32377775518752642572008-06-14T23:20:00.002+02:002008-06-15T00:05:49.585+02:00

In dealing with businesses here, namely those services essential for survival, there are an old cultural set of rules which I suspect come from the closed off culture of Spain. I am accustomed to the competition and customer service driven business atmosphere of America. Say all you would like about Capitalism, but the focus and aim of capitalism tends to benefit the consumer and the consumer

Spencernoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7603288625442864896.post-61079565911271679152008-06-06T18:26:00.004+02:002008-12-11T10:41:26.309+01:00

So I thought for fun I would begin giving out random awards to the people around Tossa who have made a somewhat daily impact on my being here, wanting to stay here or wanting to swim back to Richmond.So without further delay...I present...Spencer Warren 1st Annual Tossa Image awards or SWTI (sweaty) for short.Our first award of the month...goes to Best Performance by a couple or duo (don´t want

Spencernoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7603288625442864896.post-50429662052423908382008-06-03T09:38:00.001+02:002008-06-03T09:38:31.443+02:00

I have a few stories to tell about my adventures here in Spain but have been too busy to share them with all of my 2 of my readers. So sit back and enjoy another installment of...El Americano...perdido!!!!So Carme and I arranged to have our annual dental teeth cleaning appointments back to back. That way we can go together and spend more time together. Or is it because Carme hates to drive

Spencernoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7603288625442864896.post-11157178206962964222008-05-26T10:23:00.004+02:002008-12-11T10:41:27.395+01:00

Well like the title says...we will be here in Spain for another year at least.to update everyone on what´s going on:I found a little shop to house my business "Costa Brava Serveis Informatics" right near the heart of Tossa´s commercial center. The shop is in a great location on a widely used street with much foot traffic. That will be good as it will keep my advertising costs to a minimum. I

Spencernoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7603288625442864896.post-2623881836241585672008-05-02T23:44:00.005+02:002008-12-11T10:41:27.553+01:00

A few weeks ago, the family got all dressed up and we went to attend a family friend´s first communion. Anna is the granddaughter of one of my mother-in-law´s best friends, Anita. Anita and her family used to live in the apartment under Carme and her family for most of Carme´s youth. Carmen and Anita are still good friends and always invite each other´s family to family functions. Anita and her

Spencernoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7603288625442864896.post-86166410351284085472008-05-01T23:49:00.004+02:002008-05-02T00:22:32.726+02:00

A little update on what´s been going on in my life...Last Friday was the last practice of the season. Two of our players, Pepe and Naysim (the one that is smitten with Carme) were invited to "play up" with the professional team. Now Tossa is a small town so we don´t have the money and talent pool to be considered a formidable force at any level but still, I am sure Tossa could beat the snot out

Spencernoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7603288625442864896.post-18230607414369842142008-04-23T15:38:00.002+02:002008-04-23T15:52:55.730+02:00

Today, April 23, is St. Jordi´s day in Catalonia. It is celebrated in the many autonomous regions of Spain like Valencia and Catalunya. Much like Valentine´s Day in America, this is a day to celebrate those whom you love with a gift. The typical and customary gift for a woman is a rose, for the men or boys, a book. Generally it started a long time ago in honor of Saint George, the patron

Spencernoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7603288625442864896.post-23468604017520842812008-04-19T22:57:00.003+02:002008-04-21T10:13:49.130+02:00

If you play video games or have a computer, you would know about a reset button. It´s a magic button, with the power to restart the worst of situations, bring you back to a state of balance and harmony of a do-over. the beauty in this is that one rarely has the option, in real life, to start over when they are faced with a difficult situation when chosing the wrong path. This button adds magic

Spencernoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7603288625442864896.post-33707003886050117342008-04-14T15:03:00.003+02:002008-04-14T23:42:19.089+02:00

Like some, Carme is not one to age gracefully. not to say she is showing many of the normal signs of aging physically, but she will not go to the next age without kicking and screaming like a spoiled little brat. So for the 13th year in a row, she is exhibiting her inability to count or age past the year 21.For her birthday, the whole family (Joaquin, Carmen, Johnnie, Natalia, Noelia, Carme, Alex

Spencernoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7603288625442864896.post-90960070949028665692008-04-12T00:26:00.002+02:002008-04-14T00:28:29.989+02:00

For most of you, you may remember how enthusiastic I am for the sport of soccer. I was never much of a player, but mediocre players can make good coaches and I was passionate about teaching kids how to play. Part of my move to Spain was a chance and to accept the challenge of coaching in a country where from birth, soccer is a part of their existence!Well it is both difficult and easy at the

Spencernoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7603288625442864896.post-4505829630922068512008-04-02T23:54:00.002+02:002008-04-03T00:32:43.471+02:00

This is a screamer here. Well part laughing and part ctying. the other Sunday, we had a game. Our ranks were pretty thin as Sergie went on a skiing trip, sebastian is recovering from knee surgery, Oscar had a motocross competition and I have no idea where Caletrio was. Luckily we had both keepers, David and Coris, as well as a player from Morocco, Naseem.Naseem is the youger brother of Kader.

Spencernoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7603288625442864896.post-92088854292046533822008-03-27T21:53:00.003+01:002008-03-27T22:44:34.387+01:00

I just don´t. I am so far removed from Africa and it´s culture, languages, religion and heritage. It´s more and more evident as I meet and get to know more and more Africans. I remember someone tried to explain to me that African American respresents our past and our present. It was so much more descriptive than Black. Colored was a respresentation to our many shades but I think the Latinos

Spencernoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7603288625442864896.post-41038855288243968962008-03-26T23:14:00.002+01:002008-03-27T21:52:56.429+01:00

Today, Wednesday, I had my first appointment with my doctor in Spain. His name is Xavier, a name which I like. When Carme called for me, she asked specifically for a doctor who spoke English. he speaks as much english as Jackie Chan but hey, I need to work on my Spanish anyhow.Oh quick note, here in Spain, they do not refer to their language as Spanish. I guess it´s like going to China and

Spencernoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7603288625442864896.post-41280173643755532452008-03-24T23:31:00.002+01:002008-03-25T00:46:40.698+01:00

Well it has been a pleasant 4 day weekend here in Spain. It all started with Good Friday and a planned trip to France. Our goal was to drive up the coastline on the winding and turning roads of Coasta Brava and take in the beautiful sunshine. Alex was in the backseat with his nose firmly planted in his Nintendo DS while Carme and I enjoyed the new album from Erykah Badu. 3/4 of the way there,

Spencernoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7603288625442864896.post-82511672765636667032008-03-24T23:01:00.003+01:002008-03-24T23:31:52.858+01:00

I finished my two projects this week. After 5 months of going back and forth with Alfonso, the owner of a local tour busing company, I finally completed his website. Let me add that I am torn by this. He wants me to put my mark on the website but I am torn. I do want to put my mark on the site; it would drum up more business. But I am not at all satisfied with the design and layout. You see

Spencernoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7603288625442864896.post-22627889985511407082008-03-22T23:07:00.002+01:002008-03-22T23:48:55.939+01:00

Here in Spain, March 19 is Father´s Day. Much like the American holiday in June, it’s a day meant to celebrate the fathers all across Spain by their families. I was quite not mentally prepared for this day as I am used to having the day a week or so before my birthday so I can double up on the gifts and attention. I was awakened to my wife and son bringing me handmade cards. Alex decided he

Spencernoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7603288625442864896.post-60594717653402163682008-03-16T00:50:00.002+01:002008-03-16T01:35:02.345+01:00

A few weeks ago, before we made our trip back to America, the older men of the soccer club which I coach for, AE Tossa invited me to come play a "veteran´s game". This is a game consisting of older, retired players of all ages to play a pickup game. The ages ranged from 30ish to their 60´s. I was nervous to think I would go out and play with these men as I don´t seem to play as well as I once

Spencernoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7603288625442864896.post-7510541963045503482008-03-12T23:08:00.002+01:002008-03-12T23:18:29.002+01:00

ok so if you read before, i was intending on bring a little bit of America to this area of Spain. The field was clear for a breezy and bright sunday afternoon and I was racing to make my date with the many kids promised to show up to the event....One one showed up...end of story.

Spencernoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7603288625442864896.post-16205613332748995942008-03-08T00:04:00.003+01:002008-03-08T01:36:58.271+01:00

Before I left for America, a friend of mine (funny I cannot remember his name but he is the father of one of Alex's teammates) asked me if I could bring back a football. Now not to confuse you, I mean an American football. You know, Peyton Manning signed kinda football. I am not talking about some soccer ball. So one of my first objectives, I think before seeing my own grandmother, was to go to a

Spencernoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7603288625442864896.post-21421045330537722692008-02-18T05:47:00.003+01:002008-03-04T02:40:41.296+01:00

Wednesday, Feb 13th, 2008. That was Carme and my 9th wedding anniversary and we spent it crossing the international dateline on a German Airline. We were excited to get back to see our family and friends in the states but I was filled with more anxiety than I could handle.I was already dreading the visit back after 6 months. I think it was too soon to return. Still I feel like I am trying to get

Spencernoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7603288625442864896.post-2368709405827841572008-02-12T12:27:00.000+01:002008-02-12T12:50:56.299+01:00

Tomorrow, I will be flying back with my family to America for a visit, pretty much 6 months from when we left. I am filled with mixed feelings and emotions and partially dreading this flight.After 6 months here I have become, more noticeably, comfortable with the language. i notice I can "hear" it better it better than before as well as I think a bit faster. i say this is all due to practice

Spencernoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7603288625442864896.post-27173188778102541882008-02-03T22:46:00.000+01:002008-02-06T01:44:54.003+01:00

So it´s been a crazy week. I think in the span of seven days I have gained a few more grey hairs and learned quite abit about the catalans arounds me. Some of the week has been worthy of a smile and snicker and other events...well let´s just say some adjustments have to be put in place. I will let you decide if i decide to write about it. For now...the smiles:This weeks´s game was a very

Spencernoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7603288625442864896.post-44749530028349285162008-01-21T23:44:00.000+01:002008-01-23T00:53:06.606+01:00

Tossa de Mar is a small town rich with history. Today I witnessed something quite amazing as a testimate to human faith and determinations. A little back story shall we... During the 15th century, when a plague devastated a number of coastal towns, the inhabitants of Tossa promised to send a pilgrim every year to the hermitage of Sant Sebastià, in the town of Santa Coloma de Farners, to give

Spencernoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7603288625442864896.post-25176674578648487152008-01-08T13:35:00.000+01:002008-01-08T13:37:27.258+01:00

I just found out that nearby there is a bit of a ski resort. I knew the Pyrenees were within view but was not sure of skiing or sledding options. check out a few of the pics from when Johnnie too Noelia and Alex while I had to work :(

Spencernoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7603288625442864896.post-81402609420482128542008-01-07T23:32:00.000+01:002008-01-11T00:29:33.269+01:00

So a week or two ago I decided to do some marketing and self promotion. In order for my business to fly, I have to get the word out that I am in business right? I cannot rely on the local media as Tossa doesn´t have a daily newspaper. No, the local newsroom is Tossa itself with rumors and gossip running amok. The most ironic part is overhearing younger ladies, congregating over cigarettes and

Spencernoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7603288625442864896.post-16981790987272012402008-01-04T23:48:00.000+01:002008-01-05T03:09:15.786+01:00

So with the time difference, I did not stay up to watch the Iowa caucus. I figured the results would be the same when I wake up in the morning. Funny, it was not the first thing on my mind when I woke up. But eventually the morning ritual of leaving the television running while I dress for work lent an opportunity for me to hear about the surprising revelations.As surprised as I was to hear about

Spencernoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7603288625442864896.post-30673614784389860162007-12-31T02:03:00.000+01:002007-12-31T02:20:14.684+01:00

Ok I have one thing to say about the media here in Spain...THEY HOW EVERYTHING!I am not sure how to explain it but they are not afraid to show blood, gore or horror. I can only wonder what is being shown on American TV but they don´t pull punches here. My first experence was when a police officer accidently fired a flare into a crowd and killed a little boy. The picture in the newspaper was

Spencernoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7603288625442864896.post-40501733117027388782007-12-30T23:30:00.000+01:002008-01-01T11:36:49.082+01:00

So this weekend we decided to take a trip south of Cataluña to the province of Valencia. The reason for the trip was to see a little more of Spain as much as it was for Carme to escape the lovingly smothering from her mother. Maybe I will get into that story another day...A little information about Spain and it´s provinces, of the major provinces, they are generally named after the largest and

Spencernoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7603288625442864896.post-57938954324682931272007-12-26T18:04:00.000+01:002007-12-27T00:55:24.449+01:00

As most of you know, I do the cooking for the family. Carme can make 2 dishes and order pizza. The nearest pizza delivery place is thru a winding road and about 15 miles away. we ordered there once, only once. Let´s just say it is not anywhere near your local Papa John´s. So Carme is now limited to 2 dishes.Of the 2 dishes, (truita de potata, which is an omelet of eggs and cooked potatoes,

Spencernoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7603288625442864896.post-66882843719453068792007-12-25T01:37:00.000+01:002007-12-27T00:29:06.669+01:00

So it´s Christmas eve and a few weeks ago, Carme volunteered me for Christmas eve dinner. This dinner is to include her parents, sister, brother in law and daughter and of course Alex, Carme and myself. Afterall I cooked it so I guess I should be able to eat it. So I am cooking for 8. That is no big feat in itself but the obstacles were many and varied.First of all, as I said before, things

Spencernoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7603288625442864896.post-69744328308393550762007-12-20T21:57:00.000+01:002007-12-22T00:07:22.631+01:00

So the soccer season came to a close last Wednesday for the winter and my team, the girls team and the officers of the club (president, treasurer, etc) all came for a winter cook out. The main attraction is the BUTIFARRA (pronounced booty far ra...roll that tongue) and it is a long and tasty sausage. Nothing is special about this sausage to describe to you other than every one here in

Spencernoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7603288625442864896.post-42395170386425565592007-12-20T20:53:00.000+01:002007-12-20T21:54:53.267+01:00

Ok a few background notes before I get into it about Alex...In Spain, there are a high number of motorcycles, mopeds, ATVs and dirt bikes that use the streets an highways. No ATVs or mopeds on the highways of course. But in the small towns and sometimes in between, you find yourself pulling double duty playing defensive driver with all the 2 wheeled motorists darting thru traffic. And when I

Spencernoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7603288625442864896.post-75234959417873133682007-12-17T18:50:00.000+01:002007-12-17T19:07:29.746+01:00

I am officially in business and working on my first project. It is a web site for a local bus company here in the Costa Brava area. Th company is names Girotransfer and they provide charter buses for groups all over the area. The specialize in groups doing tours, school field trips and senior citizen excursions. Here, more than back home, I see more senior citizens coming together as groups

Spencernoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7603288625442864896.post-58042350648709892992007-12-11T11:31:00.000+01:002007-12-11T12:04:28.933+01:00

Well of course there are cultural differences here in Spain. So Christmas is not spared the translations. More of a religious holiday, Xmas is more about the religious aspect and less about the kids and commercial holiday. Actually that is not fair. I cannot make assumptions on most Americans like that. Rather to me, in America, I am bombarded with buy, buy, buy and I lose focus on the

Spencernoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7603288625442864896.post-4345399523898691682007-12-07T11:09:00.000+01:002007-12-07T11:13:03.847+01:00

You do not have to wait for me to load pictures to the blog...you can just go here and look for yourselveshttp://picasaweb.google.com/demond32

Spencernoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7603288625442864896.post-11233032892273242602007-12-05T18:40:00.000+01:002007-12-06T00:34:16.186+01:00

I now realize why I feel so old. Well we all know this if we have children. you see we count their days as they grow and forget out our as they pass by silently. I am just coming to the realization that 6 years has past me by without blinking. I have enjoyed everyone of them. every breath, every sigh. My son has reached the age of 6 years old and I take this time to look back on that

Spencernoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7603288625442864896.post-19423950164933892912007-12-05T01:23:00.000+01:002007-12-05T01:26:33.882+01:00

Part of my plan of moving to Spain was to open my own computer repair shop. Tossa is just coming into the 21st century and there is one shop in town that is getting bad reviews. So I figure this would be like taking candy from a baby...well a big baby that speaks another language that I have to learn very quickly!I started posting my web page last month and it´s finally coming together. Check

Spencernoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7603288625442864896.post-10680531688492724852007-12-05T01:19:00.000+01:002007-12-05T01:23:07.887+01:00

Alex had to get a shot today. You think we took him to a concentration camp....what a teary episode...ha ha

Spencernoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7603288625442864896.post-58774715822474849532007-12-02T23:10:00.000+01:002007-12-05T01:19:43.043+01:00

So what can I say---my second trip to the island of Tenerife was a lot more adventurous and comfortable than my first. The first trip to Tenerife was in Dec. 2001 with Carme´s parents. driving around the island, a lot of fond memories came flooding back. From the Camel rides thru the park to driving a deuce and a half around the island up impossible hills and inclines thru the narrow streets (don

Spencernoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7603288625442864896.post-86725036643457535392007-11-28T15:23:00.001+01:002007-11-28T15:23:54.857+01:00

I am on the sunny island of Tenerife...look it up :)

Spencernoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7603288625442864896.post-32043907858526535342007-11-22T22:17:00.000+01:002007-11-23T02:01:42.033+01:00

So this is a story...true to life...that happened to me soon after arriving to Spain. Let´s set it up...here in Spain, things move very slow. paperwork is the slowest of all things. I am sure there is some reason behind it all but it takes months to get your paperwork done for your residency. Of course it would take longer if i were not married to a Spanish citizen. This paperwork seems to

Spencernoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7603288625442864896.post-33198563294640746042007-11-22T12:46:00.000+01:002007-11-22T19:12:39.418+01:00

So now we are all settled into our residence for the night and decide to head out on the town. Amsterdam is a about 20 minutes away and we are driving a rental car we got from Germany. Johnnie seems to think that the car will be vandalized, since we have plates from Germany, if we park it in the city. So best we park outside and take the metro into town. So we head to the station about 3 stops

Spencernoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7603288625442864896.post-86034109831975794982007-11-21T21:33:00.000+01:002007-11-21T22:22:07.510+01:00

So it´s Tuesday night and my eye has been itching since I got on the plane to go to Amsterdam. I had been fighting it for a while and trying not to worry about it. So tuesday night, I noticed my eye was a bit red and not feeling too hot. so I fall asleep...I wake up wednesday looking like I got in a bar fight and my left eye not matching my right. Well my right one was normal and my left one

Spencernoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7603288625442864896.post-59790887973946953322007-11-20T17:47:00.000+01:002007-11-22T00:07:26.829+01:00

Okay...I am still catching my breathe from Amsterdam. What can I say about it. It´s got a million different cultures, foods, and sights. I can´t seem to say enough about it but if you want to know history and all, you need to go to a library or something.So Alex, Carme, Natalia (Carme´s sis), Noelia (natalia´s daughter), Johnnie (Natalia´s husband...who is dutch) and I all are on this trip to

Spencernoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7603288625442864896.post-73632794924603640322007-11-17T02:36:00.000+01:002007-11-17T02:55:21.829+01:00

I am going to the Netherlands tomorrow. I am excited and kinda dreading it due tot he fact that is it probably -5 Celsius...if you don´t know how that that is...well it´s below freezing. Carme, Alex and I are going with her sister, Natalia, Noelia, her niece and Johnny, Nata´s husband. Johnny is from Holland so we are visiting and staying with his brother and his wife and kids. Alex should

Spencernoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7603288625442864896.post-64762151666998628722007-11-14T15:23:00.000+01:002007-11-17T02:27:27.299+01:00

There was another important aspect of living in Spain I had to learn to circumvent, bring the comforts of home here. What I mean by this is that with the age of the Internet, who is to stop me from looking at my favorite television shows or listen to my favorite radio stations. Well the answer is Copyright lawyers.You see here in Spain, there is a block on content from the US to Spain. Why? Well

Spencernoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7603288625442864896.post-75813847142224563502007-11-12T16:06:00.000+01:002007-11-13T11:00:55.472+01:00

One thing about moving to a new country, find someone local with some sense to explain or catch you doing something illegal. I am not talking about like buying drugs or prostitution, common sense takes over in those categories. I am talking about little things that we take for granted or abuse in America.Last Sunday I was driving thru the town on the way to have lunch with a school buddy of Carme

Spencernoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7603288625442864896.post-68627913003590894422007-11-08T13:15:00.000+01:002007-11-12T17:13:07.844+01:00

I am sorry I just have to quickly comment on one aspect of pain that can drive the Pope to commit homicide...the freaking flies here in Spain!The common house fly here is Spain is a different breed than that of the American house fly. Despite their tiny little accents (el buzzzzzzzo), they look and act just like the american housefly, but they are mutations above those in Virginia. They fly

Spencernoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7603288625442864896.post-71323420677908301222007-11-03T23:11:00.000+01:002007-11-04T00:05:41.498+01:00

So Carme decided to get a better deal on our internet connection at our apartment. Living in Tossa is like living in Dinwiddie county and trying to get fiber optics to your trailer. There are a few companies battling it our for the new territory of home internet users but due to treacherous terrain, it's kind of difficult to run the cabling, but it's here none the less. To me, Tossa is like

Spencernoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7603288625442864896.post-1711735693052919042007-10-24T22:13:00.000+02:002007-10-26T11:05:13.907+02:00

As I mentioned before, I got a chance to do some coaching here in Spain. If you know me well enough, you know how important coaching or the game of soccer is to me. So I got a little job being a coach for the local soccer club, Athleticia Esportiva Tossa (A.E. Tossa). Tossa, again, is a pretty small town. So there is only one club here. A club is a name describing one group of people, presided

Spencernoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7603288625442864896.post-84817128679782526282007-10-21T21:56:00.000+02:002007-10-25T19:00:17.798+02:00

OK so it´s time to roll the dice and move onto bigger and better adventures. So what do I dream up? A train ride to Barcelona!!!OK a little bit more to the story...Again I live in Costa Brava. Tossa de mar is about a little over an hour drive north from Barcelona. By train it takes about 90 minutes hitting all the resort towns along the coast. Now this may seems like nothing to the average reader

Spencernoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7603288625442864896.post-17480780811615487302007-10-20T19:24:00.000+02:002008-12-11T10:41:28.565+01:00

So I decided to be a big boy and make some footprints of my own. so I planned two solo tips on my own. The first one was to Banyoles.I had to find someone to translate my birth certificate and the nearest (and cheapest) was a lady named Marta Foix. Marta is a retired lady who has been translating English to Spanish or catalan since 1974. She lives in a city called Banyoles which is northwest of

Spencernoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7603288625442864896.post-75512767337327859742007-10-16T23:30:00.000+02:002007-10-18T01:44:59.714+02:00

OK I had some issues with my last web hosting company and decided to part ways, as the relationship was not working out. After a long talk, some tears, and them returning some clothing, we parted ways. Of course, when they get drunk or visit a place we went together (the Internet)...they get emotional and call me. It's so hard to not go back to what was once so new and fresh and satisfying.

Spencernoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7603288625442864896.post-54526687456283501052007-10-07T11:38:00.000+02:002007-10-16T11:39:09.084+02:00

October 7, 2007So one of the things I am doing here is coaching. My father in law decided to find me work as a coach here with the local soccer club. Tossa de mar has a soccer club called U.E Tossa (Union Esportivo de Tossa). Before I could buy my ticket to Spain, I was offered a position coaching. Can you imagine these Europeans accepting an American coach. Before I left, most of my

Spencernoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7603288625442864896.post-70955242171639595782007-10-05T11:37:00.000+02:002007-10-16T11:38:21.021+02:00

October 5, 2007Ok some smarty decided to comment on using spell check. If you knew me then you know I am too lazy to do so. So let's put up with my deficiency in details...shall we? So more on the tales of Raphael. If you read before, he is the sensei of concrete work here in Tossa. Picture a drunken old man, stout, with an ill fitted baseball cap, drunkenly slurry his words and carrying the

Spencernoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7603288625442864896.post-1187344591426471592007-10-02T11:32:00.000+02:002007-10-16T11:37:14.725+02:00

October 2, 2007So here what is going ...Good news...well I guess it is good. I am working. I am working for my father in law in construction. Anyone who knows me, i am not an outside kind of work guy. I am so comfortable with my morning coffee and my monitor and keyboard, doing some kind of damage. Now I get up 7am, out the door by 8, onsite by 8:01(it's a small town). I am working with a man who

Spencernoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7603288625442864896.post-51638819062019015842007-09-22T11:29:00.000+02:002007-10-17T20:10:03.386+02:00

September 22, 2007So I checked out my competition. Let me just say, I knew at first glance I am going to kick his butt. It´s hostile take over time. Like I am fighting for street corners to sell drug, I am going to get a few hard hitting Negroes to get medieval on his ass!I went into his shop, of course sticking out like a sore thumb because I was the only one in the small shop and as big and

Spencernoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7603288625442864896.post-25960170038672132552007-09-21T11:28:00.000+02:002007-10-16T11:43:20.942+02:00

September 21, 2007So while I sit and wait to establish my residency, I decided to check out the town and figure out what I am going to do with the rest of my time here in Spain, be it for a year or forever. Many people know I am good with computers and this town needs a new technician. How much different can it be from when my mother calls me and asks me "how do you make the thingy make the

Spencernoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7603288625442864896.post-42974504705119842382007-09-18T11:26:00.000+02:002007-10-16T11:42:48.217+02:00

September 18, 2007This is my first official day in Tossa de mar, Espana. A little bit about the town. It is a small "kvillage" up the coast line from Barcelona. Many tourist visit and stay here for weeks on time. Everyday a new bus seems to pull in from France, Germany, England or wherever. It is not customery for you to speak to strangers, especially since you do not know if they speak your

Spencernoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7603288625442864896.post-85470764083395131422007-09-04T11:25:00.000+02:002007-10-16T11:42:26.154+02:00

September 4, 2007On Monday, Labor Day, my wife and son took their flight to Barcelona to contiue with the next phase of PROJECT:BARCELONA!!!! We found really cheap round trip tickets from Philly on Air France (sale still going on) stopping in Paris and ending up in Barcelona. Of course that means we have return tickets but it was cheaper for these tickets rather than one way.The trip started well

Spencernoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7603288625442864896.post-22426906917797494182007-08-31T11:25:00.000+02:002007-10-16T11:41:42.670+02:00

August 31, 2007Ok so in the last blog, I began to tell you of the frustrations I was having with my realtor and his refusal to work for a sale. I am sorry if I do not own a multi million dollar home but hey, if my home was beneath you, why accept the charity case huh? Maybe, like lawyers, he was looking at it as Rocky did when he hasd to go back to basics to train and fight the monster Drago in

Spencernoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7603288625442864896.post-84994812287810061382007-08-30T11:24:00.000+02:002007-10-16T11:41:09.982+02:00

August 30, 2007ok so we closed on our home today. 28 days and it's over.So let me tell you about our ordeal. Now before I begin, don't get me wrong. I am not complaining nor do I pretend to think I should have any reason to complain but just when all hope was lost...we finally accomplished a task we thought to be impossible.You see it all started with our first agent. I won't name any names but I

Spencernoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7603288625442864896.post-18067631839236811432007-08-28T11:11:00.000+02:002007-10-16T11:40:42.648+02:00

August 28, 2007Most of my friends already know this. But most of them also could care less why.To the average human, I can see why this game is foriegn and weird. Well mostly because it is foreign. Soccer was a sport played over seas, not in the United States of America (sidebar: do people in South America call themseves Americans? of cource a person from Brasil would call themselves Brazilians,

Spencernoreply@blogger.com0