The best day so far in Madrid was Wednesday, when I did not do anything recommended (e.g. stand in line to get into the Prado).
8-11 Make coffee, put laundry on, study.
11-12 Hang up laundry and dress.
12 Have eyelashes dyed black (at Jean Louis David, for 20 euros).
12:30 Deal with blogs and e-mail, buy vegetables and fruits (7 euros).
1:30 Make and eat lunch.
2:30 Displace self by metro to Glorieta de Bilbao. Buy Le Monde Diplomatique in Spanish (4 euros). Enter 19th century coffee house. Drink carbonated mineral water (2 euros) and read Le Monde Diplomatique, then transcribe hand written notes from the morning into into miniature computer.
8 Stroll toward Chueca, eat elegant salad (10 euros) at French slow food bakery, stroll back up Fuencarral, beyond the glorieta of origin.
9:45 See Mexican art film at elegant old movie theater (7 euros).
Side note: this was a 50 euro day, expensive. But I do note that, not paying rent, not taking cabs, not buying long distance train tickets or renting cars, eating two of three meals at home and not spending more than 10 euros on the meal out, but buying a few items of interest (like newspapers and the dyeing of eyelashes), I spend an average of $50 a day. I will have to compare that to what I spend at home on things like gas, food, movies, newspapers, haircuts and what not.
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I think it is because I am not married. They think I am a child and do not know what I might actually want, and that I need their wisdom and their permission. I will add to this list later. It is very helpful for figuring out whom I should refuse to engage in conversation.
1. Have a car other than a Honda Civic. Why: a Honda Civic is the only car a person such as myself could handle. How they know: girls do not know anything about cars.
2. Buy a kayak. Why: I will not use it enough. How they know: most people buy a lot of expensive toys they then do not use, and girls should not kayak on their own, anyway.
3. If the university closes, go into a line of work that is not education oriented. Why: I should want to stay as close to the education business as possible. How they know: girls are only good for teaching.
I am over 700 years old, because I am a stela. I think I will start reminding people of this.
Axé.
coldhearted scientist وداد 
So now, you see, we have verified my whole problem — Reeducation and not spending enough time in places like Madrid. Now we have beaten Reeducation and only need to find out how to spend more time in places like Madrid.
Madrid sounds really nice 🙂
I am over 700 years old, because I am a stela. I think I will start reminding people of this.
Award: Most Bad-Ass Thing I Have Heard Today.
Oh good, I´m badass! Madrid is great, leaving tomorrow, would prefer not to.
Costs. I seem to have done lots of 35 Euro days. Yesterday cost 7 Euros in pay phone costs and 14 in cab, for a total of 21 Euros.
Today so far: 4 Euros drugstore, 2 Euros ice cream, 2 Euros Internet, 2 Euros phone. There are probably a coffee, a movie, and another phone call to go, which will add 11 Euros, for another 21 Euro day. Not too bad. I really would like to spend more time in Madrid but in easier living circumstances.
AHA. That second 21 Euro day ended up being 23 Euros because I didn’t have coffee, I had lemon granizado.
That first 21 Euro day was actually 52 Euros because I forgot: I had bought a book for 18, a belt for 9, and an orange juice for 4. That is almost an $80 day.
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Let’s contrast costs here. Yesterday: $95 groceries. Today: going out to dinner.
I cannot go to Madrid, but Real Madrid came here! They beat my soccer team. Nevertheless it was fun to watch our keeper snatch Cristiano Ronaldo’s crosses out of the air. (Did you know he was named after Ronald Reagan?)
My team defended well but could not score, and then got tired and gave up goals. This was understandable because it was 90 or 100 degrees. Ridiculously hot, anyway. I had beer and chicken fingers. It was a good Sunday.
Wow! And no, I did not know he was named after Reagan!
Yes, his father was a big Reagan fan, and Ronaldo is a given name and not a family name. It makes it that much easier to boo him, anyhow.
It is hilarious.