Look Who Turns 86 Today!

La Duquesa de Alba!  ¡Feliz cumpleaños, girl!*

(*Now I really need to get me one of these T-shirts.)

A Votar, A Votar, A Votar, O Si

Sorry for not writing these past few days, mis bonitos.  The Jayhawk and I were actually quite busy socializing (read, "getting our drink on") over the weekend.  And when we weren't out and about, the Jayhawk caught up on his zzz's while I was occupied nursing my hangover and cursing the past night's transgressions.  Which, over the course of the weekend, involved happy ho' at Gordon Biersch (good), BBQ and beers at Hill Country (disappointing, although the mix of drunk frat boys and jock lesbians on Friday night was interesting and entertaining) after a movie at E Street ("The Skin I Live In;" not the best Almodóvar film, but good once it finally got to the back story; I suggest just waiting until it comes out on video/streaming; I'll always say that Pedro should stick to females as his principal characters because his male-centered movies just aren't as good; there's a reason "A Bad Education" was named that way), espresso vodka shots and live girl dreamcore at Deperado's (pleasantly surprising), treats at Hank's Oyster Bar (I will never get enough of the BBQ oysters, and the arugula salad with duck prosciutto, pears, and radishes was amazing), and a Super Grilled Cheese sandwich at Stoney's (delicious). 

But the reason for the entry is to mention that it's time to vote, again.  Not only are the election polls open in MD and the VA today, but voting is also still open for the 2011 Hosteleriasalamanca.es Awards.*  And our dear friend, Héctor Carabias (that's him in the photo), is nominated this year for Service Industry Professional of the Year!  You know I've said it before, but I have to repeat that Héctor's food is truly the best I've ever eaten.  I've had great meals in my life, but Héctor's cooking made me cry it was so good.*  So, go cast your vote on the Facebook (you gotta "Like/Me Gusta" the page to vote)* for him.  I'll keep my fingers crossed for a win.

Update: There's still time to vote for Hector.  And you can now vote without needing a Facebook account!  Just go here*, click on Hector's photo, and type in your e-mail addy.  You'll get a message asking you to click on a link to confirm your vote.  And, presto!  Another vote for my friend!  Who, BTW, is offering his yearly limited-time tasting menu celebrating all things mushroom.*  Gawd...the Jayhawk and I need to go back to Salamanca in such a bad way.

(*Sites en español.)

There's Something in the Air

I always knew there was something special in the air over Madrid. No wonder I like it there so much. ;)

Them's the Breaks

Much like the world economy, my Internets were broken for the past few days. And it was no bueno, mis bonitos. I've spent my time watching endless hours of reruns on HGTV, Food Network, and the Travel Channel, and being educated on the horrors of child abuse in Spain thanks to the lack of Web access and the lack of new episodes of my shows on regular network TV. But I did learn that no recession is a good recession and that no good magenta is a real magenta. Both are mind tricks, much like how HTC is tricking me by releasing their new GPhone on Vodafone and Telefónica with no plans to let us officially play with it here in the States. HTC: I love you. Why do you do you toy with me so? I want some Magic in my life, too.* At least Art Lebedev will let me have some verbal time in my life. For $211.54. But I can still have it.

Back to the magenta thing for a second, though. If magenta isn't a real color, then what color is this blog? And what color is my new argyle sweater that I hold so dear? I thought I was being all non-DC and cool by owning it. Does this now mean that I'm totally anti-cool because I'm simply imagining that the sweater even exists? And have I fooled those around me by seeing it, too? Or maybe it's the ultimate in mind tricks that Banana Republic's got us all believing in the sweater? Curses to you, retail fashion sorcerers!

(*Article en español)

Update!: Magenta is a color, after all.

Colossal!

Not about the Rican juices*, but about the painting in El Prado. Looks like "The Colossus" by Franciso de Goya y Lucientes is not Goya's at all. Just so happens that Goya's quietly (since he's been dead, to be fair) been taking the credit for having painted the gentle giant for decades now. But he's really the work of one of Goya's apprentices, Asensio Juliá. Once, again, the fame ho' takes the credit while the real talent stands in the shadows. Kinda like how Eleanor Waldorf took credit for Little Jenny Humphreys' designs on the Gossip Girl. But Little Jenny showed Eleanor who's the real bosslady, didn't she? And now Little Asensio's showing Francisco who's the boss, too. Jeebus, the art gods will strike me down for having written that.

The point is that you can't trust an amigo, onetime. Much like you should never trust our favorite amigo, Alberto Gonzalez. He's really going around proclaiming that he's another good guy misrepresented by the evil media? Berto and the Blago should get together and start their own Church of Delusions. And yeah, neither Alberto nor Rod are mis amigos. Blech. Shizz...

(*El Coloso is a Registered TM of Colón Brothers, Inc.)

Watch Out!

The snows are comin'! 2-3" of them. Which is really nothing in comparison to the FOOT of snow expected for Boston Steamer's neck of the woods. But it's still the first snow of the season (finally), so the commute is definitely going to be interesting tomorrow.

And you know what else is coming? Wii-njuries.* Hablando en plata just had a report on how they're of concern in Spain. Seriously?

(*Article en español.)

¿Qué tha Wha?

Jaime Cantizano! How could you? I know you're only an unbearably hott hunka man who merely hosts a trashy 4-hour "celebrity" gossip round table show in Spain, but i thought you at least would have semi-objected to the idea for this spot. Love how she lost a track from her weave, though. Maybe that made it all worth it for you, too, ¿eh, guapo?

Gimme Gimme #7

Speaking of chefs made me think that today's installation should be all about food gifts.

I know this is corny, but I've always wanted someone to get me a Fruit of the Month Club membership. It reminds me of when my momma used to get pears shipped to her in Rico from Texas every month when I was a wee fruit, myself. Sigh...

How about some popcorn? Or cookies?

A nice cesta full of cured meats and wine would be nice. Although you can always keep it real and get a caja full of Rican coffee treats. Or keep it Midwestern with some KC BBQ goodness.

And there's yummy foodstuffs of the Omaha variety to use on with that BBQ sauce, too.

But if you really want to get to this man's heart, give a little bit of rice to those who most need it, and improve your vocab skillz while you're at it.

Num Yummy!

Gimme Gimme #2

Cooking Edition.

Everyone knows I've got a fascination with La Madre Patria. The wine, the food, the history, the culture, the parties, they all keep me going back to vacation there every year. So, to satisfy my need for all things Spain, today's additions to the Christmas wish list are a few must-haves: (1) culinary gems from crazy José Andrés; (2) treasures found on the road; and (3) the essential guide to cooking no self-respecting lover of Spain can go without. No need to buy me crazy 'spensive saffron, though. The Jayhawk and I are gonna get it on the cheap at El Corte Inglés when we fly across the pond in February. Place your orders now.

I Knew Spain's Time Was Coming

Well, maybe not so much. It looks like Spain's sperm is the worst in Europe but still the best at making babies. I guess Spain's little boys have been making up for their weaknesses. It must be all that jamón ibérico that's giving them the energy they need to make the action happen. Maybe America's boys can learn from them. At least when it comes to high speed rail. How nice would it be to have a true high speed train route (in the Northeast Corridor, at least)? One can dream.

Is Everybody Happy?

I love this! Too effing cute!* See, I would have definitely taken my vitamins when I was a wee Mango if they had been marketed/sold like this. It looks like I might have to add Barcelona to my next trip to La Madre Patria to buy me some candies.

(*Site en español.)