Photo: Getxo

This is the fisherman's village in a town just outside Bilbao.

Photo: Bilbao

I think it's pretty much required to snap a photo of the Guggenheim.
Here's the flower-covered puppy out front with his "doghouse" behind,
as it's called affectionately.

Photo: Barcelona

I visited Barcelona over the weekend.  I really loved the city.  I got to see all the big sites, have some really good food, and meet some really great people.  And there were these giant pasta shells around the city.  I didn't get a great photo of them, but I snapped this one. 

The pasta, called galets, were there because of a traditional Catalan soup with this type of pasta which is served around Christmas.  There's also a tradition of kids beating a Christmas log with a stick to get their presents.  I only half-understood that custom as it was explained to me in Spanish and broken English.

Photo: Madrid

Pork delivery at the local meat and cheese shop.

Photo: New York

I unexpectedly had a day to kill in New York thanks to flight issues. In Union Square I came across The Andy (Warhol) Monument. A sign nearby says it's only temporary. Is it possible to have a temporary monument?

Photo: Boston

Being done with classes means there's time for a quick trip to Boston.
The good old Red Line.

Photo: New Haven

I'm done with exams and off for a few weeks away from campus. See you
soon, New Haven.

Thanksgiving

I just trekked back to CA in what was easily the longest trip I've
made in a while. It was more or less just like "Planes, Trains, and
Automobiles" except without Steve Martin.

But I'm thankful I'm here now. And for lunch I was treated to some
fried catfish, onion rings, and fried okra at a place called Big
Skinnys. Here's to food!

And hello SFO! (this is the departure hall)

Wear your corduroy Friday

Along with being Veterans Day and a big, pretty palindrome (11-11-11),
Friday is also apparently a big day for the Corduroy Appreciation Club
(www.corduroyclub.com).

Every year on January 11th and November 11th the Club holds a Grand
Meeting to celebrate corduroy (all those ones in the date look like
corduroy fabric, of course). I'm not clear how one celebrates corduroy
exactly... Regardless, this year they're calling it The Grandest
Meeting because it's just so grand.

Locally grown

I was just at a conference in NY where they served locally grown Pepsi.

Hmm.

Buying a baseball team

Both the Mets and the Dodgers are in a mess financially.  I haven't really followed either story in detail, but I gather that the Mets ownership is trying to sell a minority stake in the team while the Dodgers are sort of up for sale, but sort of not because of a divorce.  Or something.

Anyways, it occurred to me that we could solve all of this with a Kickstarter project to take over the teams.  Kickstarter is a site that allows people to pool money for cool projects (like buying a baseball team, perhaps?) sort of the way Kiva pools money for loans.  

Teams owned by tons of fans who've each thrown in some money would be a pretty cool thing.

End of a GREAT summer

It's truly been a fantastic summer away from school. I worked at a really cool internship and learned a lot. I got to live in Boston and see more places and old friends than I expected. And I got to travel, travel, travel. I feel truly lucky to have had many great experiences this summer.

There are a few more days until classes start up again and I have a bit more time in California to hang out and sleep in. But there's one thing that signifies school's about to start up in a crazy way: my school email inbox is blowing up... it must be time for class again.