A Happy Ending

The first picture is a summary of my week. Well, actually it is my curling iron after exploding. Yes, the same curling iron I used all last year with an adapter literally melted and then exploded while heating up. It was the icing on the cake in a week full of frustrations. Let me explain. As you can see from the other pictures, my friend Orlando from church invited me to his work Christmas party. The great challenge of the event was putting together an acceptable outfit. I decided to wear the one formal dress I own, easily found a solution to the coat problem and bought Christmas-y accessories. The great challenge was the shoes. (Right now my friend Susan is laughing because she knows me all too well and hates shoe shopping with me...it's not my fault that nothing fits and I can't maneuver in heels!) My shoe expedition began with my friend María, who generously lent me a pair of her own shoes; the heels were too high. So, I went to El Corte Inglés and found a pair I liked. Wrong size. María lent me another pair that I tested...ouch. I went to four other Corte Ingleses. (If you've never been to Spain you are wondering why the first Corte Inglés didn't just call the others, ask for my size, and have them hold it. If you have been to Spain you know that customer service to that degree does not exist. In fact, at the second store the clerk told me that if she were to call another store they wouldn't pick up. So, of course, why bother?) No luck at the other stores. Then I walked up and down "Shoe Store Street". Nothing. Next I went BACK to three Corte Ingleses and at the last one (four hours before the party) bought a pair of shoes that worked, but was really too small. (And although you know I'm a procrastinator, I assure you that the shoe expedition started a few weeks ago!) The week also involved a bad haircut and a scolding from my boss for reading an extra chapter with my group of students. Finally,to top it off, there was the "I almost started a fire in Spain curling iron fiasco". I love being a woman.

To make a really long story only semi-long, the party was great. I made it on time and in one piece, appropriately (though somewhat painfully) shod and hair done. It was at a renovated convent from the 1600's. The decorations were beautiful, the people were friendly, and the food was delicious. By the way, see if you can guess why there were four glasses at each place setting. I'll tell you later. We arrived around 9pm and left around 3am. The party was still going strong when we left. What I love the most about Spanish people is they really know how to celebrate. We had appetizers, drinks, salad, wine, steak, three desserts, coffee and after dinner drinks, and prizes. They kept the drinks flowing and everyone danced: waltzes, flamenco, pop... My favorite pair was a plump older man in a gray suit, around 70, who danced sevillanas (like flamenco) with a young woman adorned in piercings and wearing all black and chunky boots. Later the older man cut a rug with his wife. I just love seeing people of all ages and backgrounds unite on the dance floor. :) Anyway, when we were leaving they were bringing out sandwiches. Of course! People get hungry at 3am after all that dancing!

Well, I will see you Michigan folk in a week! And to answer my question: water, white wine, red wine, champagne (in that order). Happy holiday preparations...I hope they go more smoothly than mine.