American in Spain

On Friday, I went with Marga to her dentist appointment in Vitoria. It’s about 80 minutes away, but the orthodontist there has a great reputation and did a pretty darn good job with Marga’s teeth. From the looks of it, they are making money hand over fist. Every time we go, they have some new gadget that makes their offices more futuristic. Now, you don’t even go to reception, you check in yourself with a touch screen. Fancy!

On the brisk walk from where we parked to the dentist office, we passed by the cathedral. I’d walked by it before, but on Friday it was absolutely breathtaking shimmering in the setting sun. The photos I took were taken as we walked by, with just a brief pause to frame each shot. Every single gargoyle made me long for a telephoto lens and more time. They are absolutely amazing. (more…)

I’m ashamed to say that I have yet to read any of his books, but I’ve seen a few hours of video from his lectures. Let’s just say that Richard Dawkins refers to him as his “intellectual elder brother”. Check out this excerpt from an essay, entitled Thank Goodness, that Dennett wrote after nearly dying from a heart problem.
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Since November, 2005, my Pastafarian friend, Hubbers, and I have been signing our emails to each other with the word “mhnaty”. It has recently come to my attention, that Google is completely ignorant of this wonderful acronym. This is a travesty that I’m writing this post to rectify.
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I think the roscón de reyes is a Spanish tradition that I have yet to mention on this blog. Traditionally, the second most important day of the winter holidays (the first being Nochebuena) in Spain is January 6, the Día de los Reyes Magos, or the Epiphany, as it’s known in English. This is the day when children, traditionally (less and less so with the intrusion of American culture), receive their presents. Clearly the most logical way to tie present giving to the Christian theology would be to do it on the day that Jesus received his gifts from the three wise men.
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The following article appeared on the website of the local news channel in my home state:

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We went to Santander this morning to see the bishop. Well, obviously little pawns like us don’t actually get to meet The Bishop, but we went to his offices. We brought my birth certificate, my passport, Marga’s passport, my baptism certificate, Marga’s baptism certificate, my ID, Marga’s ID, my driver license, etc. It was all organized in a nice folder. Every possible document they could want to see.
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clerical, adj

1 (of a job or person) concerned with or relating to work in an office, esp. routine documentation and administrative tasks : temps are always needed for clerical work.

I can see how this secular definition came about after my dealings with The Church. As you may recall, we were planning on visiting the local Bishop today.
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The thing that’s got me most nervous about my impending matrimony is the unresolved clerical clerical paperwork that has to be done. According to The Catholic Church, neither Marga nor I are prepared for matrimony. And until we get the go ahead, the priest in Mondragon will not marry us.
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I’m so happy to have been born!
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Today is a holiday in many parts of Spain, including Colindres, because it is the official day of Santiago. Santiago was the disciple of Jesus credited with bringing Christianity to Spain. This morning, I told Marga, “I just realized that today is the closest thing I have to a Saint Day.” “But your name’s not Santiago,” she said. I responded, “My middle name is, though.”
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