Champions of Europe

No sleep tonight. Fireworks,car horns, shouts of Spain, Spain, champions, champions. Incredible as it seems, at least to me, Spain has just beat Germany to win the European Football (Soccer) Cup after who knows how many years without even getting to the semi-finals! Way to go!!! We are the champions!!!
Heard that Harrison Ford was going to attend the match. Wonder who he rooted for? Not that it matters, because Spain won!

A Dr Phil test

Your Score was: 40

According to Dr Phil:
Others see you as sensible, cautious, careful & practical.  They see you as clever, gifted, or talented, but modest.  Not a person who makes friends too quickly or easily, but someone who's extremely loyal to friends you do make and who expect the same loyalty in return.  Those who really get to know you realize it takes a lot to shake your trust in your friends, but equally that it takes you a long time to get over it if that trust is ever broken.

http://www.ultrasoftware.com/PhilQuiz.html

Madrid

http://es.youtube.com/watch?v=Rc6kiriG73k&NR=1

There are quite a few videos on You Tube of Spain. This particular one is the best one I've seen of Madrid. Don't remember if the Bullring is in it, but the music is fantastic. I think the person who made it must be a professional. Instructions: Just copy and paste the link where all the urls go and press enter whenever you have about 10 minutes to spare.

What Tarot Card Are You?

You are The Lovers

Motive, power, and action, arising from Inspiration and Impulse.

The Lovers represents intuition and inspiration. Very often a choice needs to be made.

Originally, this card was called just LOVE. And that's actually more apt than "Lovers." Love follows in this sequence of growth and maturity. And, coming after the Emperor, who is about control, it is a radical change in perspective. LOVE is a force that makes you choose and decide for reasons you often can't understand; it makes you surrender control to a higher power. And that is what this card is all about. Finding something or someone who is so much a part of yourself, so perfectly attuned to you and you to them, that you cannot, dare not resist. This card indicates that the you have or will come across a person, career, challenge or thing that you will fall in love with. You will know instinctively that you must have this, even if it means diverging from your chosen path. No matter the difficulties, without it you will never be complete.

What Tarot Card are You?
Take the Test to Find Out.

Happy Birthday, Sir James Paul McCartney

George Harrison (bless his soul) is supposed to have said something like the world was ready to go crazy when the Beatles made their way into the music business, and they (the Beatles) were blamed for it happening.  I don't know if either is true, because, of course, I remember those years of Beatlemania as an important part of my life.  I remember the first time in 1963 when I heard the Beatles on WABC New York radio; I remember their first appearance on the Ed Sullivan Show.  We only had one television set then, and I was surprised that our father let us watch the show; I remember one of our fantastic teachers letting us put Beatle posters up in the classroom; I remember screaming when a song I liked came on the radio, so I guess we were a little crazy.

Today is Paul's birthday.  I know all of us from this period in history had our favourite Beatle and Paul was mine.  But then, I also liked John, Ringo and George.  The only thing sad about today being Paul's birthday is that George and John aren't here to celebrate it too.  Happy birthday, Paul.  "She loves you, yeah,yeah, yeah!"

From Wikipedia: In November 2004, Rolling Stone ranked "She Loves You" as the 64th Greatest Song of All Time.  In October 2005, Uncut Magazine named "She Loves You" the third biggest song that changed the world, behind Elvis Presley's "Heartbreak Hotel" and Bob Dylan's "Like a Rolling Stone".  

Back With a Post Secret

Happy Father's Day! Bet Diana has already seen these. For some strange reason, most of this week's secrets are very, very sad. This one's the only funny one if you understand it.Hint; it's a typical expression used by people suffering from road rage.

The Countdown Begins

Heads up everybody who’s pledged to download Firefox on Tuesday. I’m really excited as I’ve never been in the Guinness Book of World Records before (missed Matt Harding when he was in Madrid). I’ve seen that the starting time is scheduled for 1 or 2 p.m. PDT. I’m confused about this because not everyone lives in the same time zone, but as I’ve said this will be my first time trying for a world record. We’re 6 hours ahead of New York and California more. Logically I’d say that I and the other people in Western Europe who’ve pledged to download FF on Tuesday June 17, 2008 would do so in the 24 hours of Tuesday for us and the rest of the world whatever is Tuesday June 17, 2008 for them. After all, isn’t Australia one of the first countries to celebrate the New Year? So logically I hope the 1 or 2 p.m. refers to the US and other parts that share more or less the same time zone. Any idea about this?

Well, Monday saw the beginning of a lorry (truck) strike in Spain. Those of you who are lorry drivers or whose husbands are lorry drivers (“If you bought it, a truck driver brought it”) know the reasoning behind the strike. Luckily so far, we haven’t suffered the lack of necessary food and medicine. I knew that as soon as the strike was announced that people, especially old people who remember the Spanish Civil War and being hungry, would start stockpiling exactly like they did during the Gulf War when supermarket shelves were EMPTY. I had to laugh because the mother of one of my students complained about having to pay 6 EUROS for toilet paper. It’s not really funny having to pay that price, but that’s something I never run out of. Yes, I admit it. I stockpile toilet paper. I’m a TP hoarder. I’m guilty as charged. Things have got a bit better, in Madrid anyway. The police haven’t permitted the strikers to block the main road entrances into Madrid. There are no easy solutions to the economic problems we’re all facing.

On Thursday, I got a call from one of my former students, whose mother had told me that she was taking her out of English because she was failing several subjects in December. The girl has the final exam in English on Tuesday and will also fail English if she doesn’t pass this exam. I prepared what I thought she would need to know for the exam and went to her house on Friday afternoon. Her father, who freelances in the advertising business, told me that he hadn’t had work for months. I figured as much in December when I also lost another student, possibly for the same reason. I didn’t want to take money for tutoring her but they insisted.

The other day I was on the ‘Dog Pool’ from Flickr and I found this photo that looks exactly like my dog, Zara. We’re slowly easing into summer. That’s what I finally did yesterday – start getting my summer things out. Hopefully later on we’ll go to our favourite park. Last Sunday we went and it rained on us a bit. It’s cloudy at the moment. There’s lots of noise outside – could be people coming for the all-important bullfight later on or people celebrating something at the banquet place across the street – the place whose name is “Wedding’s”. I must go. As always, I didn’t mean to write so much. Have a good week and don’t forget to ‘Get Firefox’ on Tuesday!   

Killroy Was Here!

Reading this reminds me of the prize that is being offered to the Spanish National Football (Soccer) Trainer, Luis Aragonés, (a Hummer) if during a press conference he will wear Raúl's football shirt. Raúl is the captain of Real Madrid and one of my favourites. However, Luis Aragonés never chooses Raúl to play on the Spanish team and this is a sore spot for lots of people.

KILROY WAS HERE!

In 1946 the American Transit Association, through its radio program, "Speak to America ," sponsored a nationwide contest to find the REAL Kilroy, offering a prize of a real trolley car to the person who could
prove himself to be the genuine article.

Almost 40 men stepped forward to make that claim, but only James Kilroy from Halifax , Massachusetts had evidence of his identity.

Kilroy was a 46-year old shipyard worker during the war. He worked as a checker at the Fore River Shipyard in Quincy . His job was to go around and check on the number of rivets completed. Riveters were on piecework and got paid by the rivet.

Kilroy would count a block of rivets and put a check mark in semi-waxed lumber chalk, so the rivets wouldn't be counted twice. When Kilroy went off duty, the riveters would erase the mark.

Later on, an off-shift inspector would come through and count the rivets a second time, resulting in double pay for the riveters.

One day Kilroy's boss called him into his office. The foreman was upset about all the wages being paid to riveters, and asked him to investigate. It was then that he realized what had been going on.

The tight spaces he had to crawl in to check the rivets didn't lend themselves to lugging around a paint can and brush, so Kilroy decided to stick with the waxy chalk. He continued to put his checkmark on each job he inspected, but added KILROY WAS HERE in king-sized letters next to the check, and eventually added the sketch of the chap with the long nose peering over the fence and that became part of the Kilroy message. Once he did that, the riveters stopped trying to wipe away his marks.

Ordinarily the rivets and chalk marks would have been covered up with paint. With war on, however, ships were leaving the Quincy Yard so fast that there wasn't time to paint them.

Personal Ads

Some "Senior" personal ads seen in Florida

FOXY LADY:
Sexy, fashion-conscious blue-haired beauty,
80's, slim, 5'4" (used to be 5'6"), searching for sharp-looking, sharp-dressing companion.
Matching white shoes and belt a plus.


LONG-TERM COMMITMENT:
Recent widow who has just buried fourth husband, is looking for someone to round out a six-unit plot.  Dizziness, fainting, shortness of breath not a problem.

SERENITY NOW:
I am into solitude, long walks, sunrises, the ocean, yoga and meditation.  If you are the silent type, let's get together,take our hearing aids out and enjoy quiet times.

WINNING SMILE:
Active grandmother with original teeth seeking a dedicated flosser to share rare steaks, corn on the cob and caramel candy.

BEATLES OR STONES?
I still like to rock, still like to cruise in my Camaro on Saturday nights and still like to play the guitar.
If you were a groovy chick, or are now a groovy hen, let's get together and listen to my eight-track tapes.

MEMORIES: I can usually remember Monday through Thursday.  If you can remember Friday, Saturday and Sunday, let's put our two heads together.  


MINT CONDITION:
Male, 1932, high mileage, good condition, some hair, many new parts including hip, knee, cornea, valves.

Sultry Sunny Sunday It's Not

At the time of writing this, it’s 55º F at noon. Tomorrow is officially the day that we can put away our winter clothes according to the old saying about the 40^th of May, which translated to modern-day dates is the 9^th of June. I’m not certain what the high is supposed to be today, but hopefully my dog and I will go for a walkabout later on in one of our favourite parks. I’ll be wearing long sleeves and a jacket though, because we’ve got a cold wind. And where is the sun? This is the weather we should be having in March or April. Not to worry. We’ll soon be moaning about the heat, so I’m going to enjoy today even if it snows (somewhere). No joke because years ago, although I don’t remember the year, it snowed in Madrid on the 7^th of June.

The above photo is one that I took a month or so ago when we did have sunny weather. This is a block of flats near the one I used to live in which was just around the corner from the park that we’re going to. I miss living in this street and being so close to that park, but where we live now is much closer to Madrid’s main street, Alcalá, and public transport. We also have a small park near, which tends to be very crowded in the summer. I’ve posted photos of both parks.

I’m going to post this and go find some secrets. Here’s hoping everyone has a good week.

Quote From Daily OM Horoscope

We're not going to the Chinese tonight, because one of my friends is really tired after giving so many First Certificate oral exams, so we've postponed our weekly get together until Saturday. Besides, today there is a very important bullfight with the King in attendance, who is sitting not in the Presidential Box but down with the common folk. Hope someone remembered to take him a cushion. I just got finished reading my horoscope for today even if it's nearly 8p.m. Here's a sentence from it that I think is good enough to be quoted. The OM readings always end with this question: What do you think?

“Consider today that keeping a relationship alive is the responsibility of each individual involved but that you are the steward of your own happiness.”
(from horoscope for June 5^th)

Since we're not going out, I'll take the opportunity to call a friend that I haven't talked to in a couple of weeks. After all, I have no idea what's on the Box on Thursday nights.

Bo Diddley

Here's a music quiz in honour of the late great Bo Diddley. The answers are included for those of us who are too young to remember or so old that we've forgotten.

MUSIC OF THE 50s and 60s

1.  Name the song with "A-wop bop a-loo bop a-lop bam boom".
2.  What time did "Little Suzie" finally wake up?
3.  "_________________Angel," ______________Angel, will you be mine?"
4.  "I found my thrill................"   Where?
5.  "Please turn on your magic beam,___________________, bring me a dream."
6.  For which label did Elvis Presley first record?
7.  Who asked, "Why's everybody always pickin' on me?"
8.  In Bobby Darin's "Mack The Knife," who is the one with the knife?
9.  In what movie did you hear "Rock Around The Clock"?
10. Who is generally given credit for the term "Rock & Roll"?
11. Who left the music industry to become a preacher in 1957?
12. Paul Anka's "Puppy Love" is written to what star?
13. What are the first names of the Everly Brothers?  
14. What is the real name of the "Big Bopper"?
15. What is the name of the record company started in 1959 by Berry Gordy, Jr.?
16. What T.V.  show had the song "Kookie, Kookie, Lend Me Your Comb"?
17. Who did Bobby Darin marry in 1960?
18. Who had the hit song "Book Of Love"?
19. Whose music is used in the show "Mama Mia"?
20. Which popular 50s group is famous for "Goin' Out of My Head."?




            ANSWERS TO MUSIC OF THE 50s and 60s
 1) Tutti Fruitti
 2) 4:00 o'clock
 3) Earth
 4) Blueberry Hill
 5) Mr. Sandman
 6) Sun Label
 7) Charlie Brown
 8) MacHeath
 9) Blackboard Jungle
10) Alan Freed
11) Little Richard
12) Annette Funicello
13) Don and Phil
14) Jiles P. Richardson
15) Motown
16) 77 Sunset Strip
17) Sandra Dee
18) The Monotones
19) Abba
20) Little Anthony and the Imperials

The Rain in Spain

There will be lots of sayings about the weather in May, some probably more popular than the one I know which is: “Mayo nublado y junio claro, pan todo el año.” Translation: “May cloudy and June fair, bread the whole year.” Funnily enough May started out really nice. We even had a few days where the temperature got up into the lower 80’s until one day when I met a friend in an outdoor café and I was cold sitting outside. Since then, I’ve been wearing long sleeves. Today’s the first day of June and I’ve got a light on so I can see what I’m writing and it’s raining, not hard but enough for an umbrella. Don’t believe everything you’ve heard about sunny Spain. This has been the rainiest Mays we’ve had in years. One of the people who predict the weather by observing Nature (I’m sure there must be a name for them) has said we’ll have a short intense (blazing hot) summer.

 Onto other matters: I’d like to make two recommendations. The first one I learnt from an ex sister-in-law. Whenever my defences get low or I get rundown, I always get a cold sore. I felt one starting on Wednesday evening. I put Carmex on it, and though it hasn’t completely disappeared, it hasn’t spread like they often do and is no longer painful. The smell of Carmex (camphor) always reminds of my grandmother and it’s a cheap treatment which makes it an attractive one.  The other recommendation has nothing to do with health. A couple of weeks ago every time I opened my homepage there was an ad which any time the mouse went near it it opened, asking me to download some software. I sent a complaint to Customer Service, and even though the ad remains on my page instead of asking me to install software it disappears when I go near it. I’m sure you’ve encountered this type of ad, especially videos which ‘suddenly’ start playing, but when it’s a page that you visit regularly then it’s annoying. I know people have complained a lot about the last updates, but we certainly can’t complain about how we’re treated on here. Thanks CS for solving my ad problem. And if you haven’t voted for Multiply as the ‘Best Blogging Host’, please do so. Certainly don’t hesitate to ask in one of the support groups if you have a problem.

  I’m sort of prepared for tomorrow. At least I’ve got my lunch ready. I’ve made a vegetable lasagne which has turned out perfectly. The last time I made lasagne I put too much oregano in it, but I got used to that. Now had it had too much salt, it would have been ruined. I don’t really have a recipe. The basic ingredients are broccoli, zucchini (courgettes) and mushrooms as vegetables and I prefer green pasta. Well, I’d better go and do some more preparation for another week. Hope everyone has a good week ahead.