
<a href="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2009-12-30-a-basque-chrismas-with-olentzero/4228642810_79da389507_o_d.jpg" target="_blank" class="flickr-image post-thumb" title="Opening presents is the best!">
  <img src="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2009-12-30-a-basque-chrismas-with-olentzero/4228642810_6fe04c5d71_t.jpg" alt="Opening presents is the best!"/>
</a>

On Christmas Eve night in the Basque Country, the homes of little children are visited by an enormous, soot-stained, Basque gentleman in a beret who drops off presents. His name is Olentzero. [The history of this tradition and its variations](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Olentzero) is quite fascinating. In fact, when people give gifts on Christmas, there is much less emphasis (than in [my culture](/2009/12/23/christmas-came-early-this-year/)) on who the gift is from. It's just, "Here's your Olentzero", where the name also is slang for the gift itself. Surprising no one, Nora was the biggest recipient of gifts from the big burly Basque this year.  <a href="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2009-12-30-a-basque-chrismas-with-olentzero/4228638626_3eb45dd8aa_o_d.jpg" target="_blank" class="flickr-image" title="Christmas 2: Olentzero">
  <img src="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2009-12-30-a-basque-chrismas-with-olentzero/4228638626_3808f943de.jpg" alt="Christmas 2: Olentzero"/>
</a>

 Quite a respectable haul, I'd say!

<a href="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2009-12-30-a-basque-chrismas-with-olentzero/4228642810_79da389507_o_d.jpg" target="_blank" class="flickr-image" title="Opening presents is the best!">
  <img src="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2009-12-30-a-basque-chrismas-with-olentzero/4228642810_6fe04c5d71.jpg" alt="Opening presents is the best!"/>
</a>

 Once again, the actual ripping of wrapping paper was the best part.

<a href="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2009-12-30-a-basque-chrismas-with-olentzero/4228658034_65796709a2_o_d.jpg" target="_blank" class="flickr-image" title="Choo-choo train!">
  <img src="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2009-12-30-a-basque-chrismas-with-olentzero/4228658034_79d12bc6b7.jpg" alt="Choo-choo train!"/>
</a>

 A choo-choo train! The music it plays is surprisingly pleasing and non-annoying, but then I've only heard it a dozen times so far.

<a href="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2009-12-30-a-basque-chrismas-with-olentzero/4228665756_56810465b7_o_d.jpg" target="_blank" class="flickr-image" title="Baby doll for Nora">
  <img src="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2009-12-30-a-basque-chrismas-with-olentzero/4228665756_39132c9865.jpg" alt="Baby doll for Nora"/>
</a>

 A doll! As dolls go, this one is pretty nice. The body is soft, and the head is molded plastic. On the box, it says, "She takes her shoes off!" and "Works without batteries!" leading some adults to have hopes of animatronics, but those two sentences mean that its shoes do come off and that it doesn't require batteries, much in the same way that a block of wood doesn't require batteries.

<a href="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2009-12-30-a-basque-chrismas-with-olentzero/4227904977_50d955d86e_o_d.jpg" target="_blank" class="flickr-image" title="Whoa, it looks just like me!">
  <img src="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2009-12-30-a-basque-chrismas-with-olentzero/4227904977_3454954c69.jpg" alt="Whoa, it looks just like me!"/>
</a>

 The doll's face is _DISTURBINGLY_ similar to Nora's.

<a href="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2009-12-30-a-basque-chrismas-with-olentzero/4228741872_b7575f6c9c_o_d.jpg" target="_blank" class="flickr-image" title="New doll">
  <img src="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2009-12-30-a-basque-chrismas-with-olentzero/4228741872_339cca3891.jpg" alt="New doll"/>
</a>

 Aunt Marga holds the doll.

<a href="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2009-12-30-a-basque-chrismas-with-olentzero/4228756808_ed242728c9_o_d.jpg" target="_blank" class="flickr-image" title="Flambéing Shrimp">
  <img src="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2009-12-30-a-basque-chrismas-with-olentzero/4228756808_f771dff993.jpg" alt="Flambéing Shrimp"/>
</a>

 Aunt Marga flambes shrimp.

<a href="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2009-12-30-a-basque-chrismas-with-olentzero/4228005439_f6afd5b074_o_d.jpg" target="_blank" class="flickr-image" title="Shimp and Olives">
  <img src="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2009-12-30-a-basque-chrismas-with-olentzero/4228005439_9c9ab34fcb.jpg" alt="Shimp and Olives"/>
</a>

 Shrimp, olives, and a half-pint of wine.

<a href="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2009-12-30-a-basque-chrismas-with-olentzero/4228780234_616a785f9a_o_d.jpg" target="_blank" class="flickr-image" title="Marga's new cardigan">
  <img src="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2009-12-30-a-basque-chrismas-with-olentzero/4228780234_9f841965b9.jpg" alt="Marga's new cardigan"/>
</a>

 Olentzero brought Marga this lovely grape cardigan.

<a href="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2009-12-30-a-basque-chrismas-with-olentzero/4221921360_34da684f74_o_d.jpg" target="_blank" class="flickr-image" title="Caressing Great-Grandpa">
  <img src="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2009-12-30-a-basque-chrismas-with-olentzero/4221921360_baf32d2425.jpg" alt="Caressing Great-Grandpa"/>
</a>

 Caressing Great-Grandpa.

<a href="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2009-12-30-a-basque-chrismas-with-olentzero/4228788568_130cf2b1f5_o_d.jpg" target="_blank" class="flickr-image" title="That's not your great-granddaughter!">
  <img src="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2009-12-30-a-basque-chrismas-with-olentzero/4228788568_a501439c28.jpg" alt="That's not your great-granddaughter!"/>
</a>

 Um, that's not your great grand-daughter. You can tell them apart because Nora never uses a pacifier.

<a href="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2009-12-30-a-basque-chrismas-with-olentzero/4228055451_408585e44d_o_d.jpg" target="_blank" class="flickr-image" title="Hi, Nora!">
  <img src="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2009-12-30-a-basque-chrismas-with-olentzero/4228055451_d0bc20b4a5.jpg" alt="Hi, Nora!"/>
</a>

 Playing with Mommy after Christmas dinner.

We all had a wonderful time at Christmas. The traditional family Christmas carols that Marga wrote down [last year](/2008/12/28/christmas-2008/) were printed out (the paper table cloth she wrote them on spent the year in our car's glove compartment) and passed out for singing. Nora was very well behaved after her [period of adaptation](/2009/12/28/abandonment-issues/). Perhaps next year Nora will want to see Olentzero when he parades around town before Christmas.


A Basque Chrismas with Olentzero


<a href="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2009-12-28-abandonment-issues/4207885079_1121993e28_o_d.jpg" target="_blank" class="flickr-image post-thumb" title="Cutie Basque">
  <img src="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2009-12-28-abandonment-issues/4207885079_a75d043947_t.jpg" alt="Cutie Basque"/>
</a>

For pretty much all of December my wife's family has been pressuring us to leave Nora with them for [Santo Tomás](/2007/12/26/santo-tomas/) (December 22), a huge festival in their town of Mondragon involving special seasonal foods, getting dressed up in traditional Basque clothing, traditional Basque music and dancing, and a crafts and livestock market. The main reason they wanted her was to dress her up in some traditional Basque clothes. Some part of our human brain finds it incredibly adorable to dress up a small child (or chimpanzee) in clothes we associate more with adult humans.  The main reason we let them have her was because, isolated with no extended family here in Cantabria, she often has problems with strangers, and for the big festive night of the season, Christmas Eve, we knew she would have to be around a lot of aunts and uncles and cousins, and we knew she'd freak out if we arrived that night and plopped her into that sea of doting arms. Sure enough, everyone reported that for the first day or two, she didn't want to be held by anyone but her grandparents, but slowly she warmed up to everyone and even got used to strangers poking at her. Success!

At home, alone, Marga and I enjoyed some peace and an overwhelming lack of responsibility, getting things done that would have taken four times as long with Nora, and even going out until 3 AM for the price we'd have had to pay a babysitter for that time.

Everyone was nervous about the reunion. They sat us down side by side like game show contestants and then, after an interminable wait, brought Nora into the room. The flash of surprise and joy we were hoping for never happened. It was more of an "Oh, hey guys," expression. I was both glad and sad that she didn't miss us that much.

<a href="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2009-12-28-abandonment-issues/4206284384_5e398bfd02_o_d.jpg" target="_blank" class="flickr-image" title="Santo Tomás Girl">
  <img src="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2009-12-28-abandonment-issues/4206284384_32ef6f5265.jpg" alt="Santo Tomás Girl"/>
</a>

 Nora in her Basque Santo Tomás outfit, which should be good for at least another year.

<a href="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2009-12-28-abandonment-issues/4221916104_f860ecd945_o_d.jpg" target="_blank" class="flickr-image" title="Stairs with Cousin Rubén">
  <img src="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2009-12-28-abandonment-issues/4221916104_77eee2c019.jpg" alt="Stairs with Cousin Rubén"/>
</a>

 Going up the stairs with Cousin Rubén.

<a href="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2009-12-28-abandonment-issues/4221921360_34da684f74_o_d.jpg" target="_blank" class="flickr-image" title="Caressing Great-Grandpa">
  <img src="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2009-12-28-abandonment-issues/4221921360_baf32d2425.jpg" alt="Caressing Great-Grandpa"/>
</a>

 Merry Christmas, Great-Grandpa!

Soon after Christmas Day, the "You're going to leave her with us for the rest of the year, right?" and the "You can't take her away from us now!" and the "It's only like two days from the 27th to the 31st!" comments began. My first reaction to these was, "Of course we're taking her!" and "Wait, why should I be visiting my daughter only on weekends?"

<a href="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2009-12-28-abandonment-issues/4218780658_ae1d0a28be_o_d.jpg" target="_blank" class="flickr-image" title="Checked Luggage">
  <img src="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2009-12-28-abandonment-issues/4218780658_94b9246845.jpg" alt="Checked Luggage"/>
</a>

 This way Mommy and Daddy can't possibly leave me!

In the end, it came down to two things: 1) I foresee Nora spending this last fortnight of most years with her grandparents in Mondragón, so why not start with the first one? and 2) Not having her around for another four days will be difficult, but bearable, but will bring _so much joy_ to her grandparents, and it's a rare occasion when I can bring that much joy to people I love.

So sorry, kiddo, you're not coming back home this year.


Abandonment Issues


<a href="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2009-12-23-christmas-came-early-this-year/4206730254_f0cd43c056_o_d.jpg" target="_blank" class="flickr-image post-thumb" title="Big box for Nora">
  <img src="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2009-12-23-christmas-came-early-this-year/4206730254_dbae235a73_t.jpg" alt="Big box for Nora"/>
</a>

At our house this year, we had Christmas morning on the evening of December 16th. This was mainly because it was the last night my parents were visiting and giving gifts is much better when you can see the look on the recipient's face as they open their presents. Plus, the more the merrier. To begin the ceremony, my father announced the system our family has used for as long as I can remember to inform the three first-time participants, Marga, Belén, and Nora.

> The youngest family member able to do so shall pull gifts from the tree one by one, announcing who each one is from and to, and deliver it to its recipient. The recipient shall thereby open the gift while everyone watches and thank the giver. Repeat until there are no more presents under the tree, whilst trying to alternate recipients as much as possible.

This year, the youngest able present distributor was Belén. It just so happened that we had a perfect hat for her to wear throughout the ceremony. <a href="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2009-12-23-christmas-came-early-this-year/4206370815_5d4b3230dc_o_d.jpg" target="_blank" class="flickr-image" title="Christmas Belén">
  <img src="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2009-12-23-christmas-came-early-this-year/4206370815_963fb0bbc9.jpg" alt="Christmas Belén"/>
</a>

 After all, Belén's name means Bethlehem. You can't get much more Christmasier than that!

<a href="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2009-12-23-christmas-came-early-this-year/4206525984_1b54c8125b_o_d.jpg" target="_blank" class="flickr-image" title="Nora unwrapping Christmas present">
  <img src="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2009-12-23-christmas-came-early-this-year/4206525984_43dbec56cd.jpg" alt="Nora unwrapping Christmas present"/>
</a>

 Nora immediately understood that the crinkly sound of the wrapping paper is one of the most magical parts of Christmas morning.

<a href="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2009-12-23-christmas-came-early-this-year/4206548234_3def7b8f15_o_d.jpg" target="_blank" class="flickr-image" title="Be afraid, beautiful people!">
  <img src="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2009-12-23-christmas-came-early-this-year/4206548234_bd77c3cc28.jpg" alt="Be afraid, beautiful people!"/>
</a>

 I got a book called _[The Geeks' Guide to World Domination: Be Afraid, Beautiful People](http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0307450341?ie=UTF8&tag=eriksblog07-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=0307450341)_.

<a href="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2009-12-23-christmas-came-early-this-year/4206570810_7a12c8fac7_o_d.jpg" target="_blank" class="flickr-image" title="A Seuss Classic">
  <img src="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2009-12-23-christmas-came-early-this-year/4206570810_45eb28c2bb.jpg" alt="A Seuss Classic"/>
</a>

 Nora got an old classic.

<a href="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2009-12-23-christmas-came-early-this-year/4206582378_89ff1b7a49_o_d.jpg" target="_blank" class="flickr-image" title="Marga gets a Bobo Glove">
  <img src="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2009-12-23-christmas-came-early-this-year/4206582378_cb7b80d1da.jpg" alt="Marga gets a Bobo Glove"/>
</a>

 Marga got a [Bobo Glove](http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0761149880?ie=UTF8&tag=eriksblog07-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=0761149880)...

<a href="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2009-12-23-christmas-came-early-this-year/4206609636_2a0467c430_o_d.jpg" target="_blank" class="flickr-image" title="Talk to the Bobo Glove!">
  <img src="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2009-12-23-christmas-came-early-this-year/4206609636_a19c2e033c.jpg" alt="Talk to the Bobo Glove!"/>
</a>

 ...which was mostly played with by someone else.

<a href="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2009-12-23-christmas-came-early-this-year/4205853069_e56d458224_o_d.jpg" target="_blank" class="flickr-image" title="Erik gets a Quaker Meadows hat">
  <img src="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2009-12-23-christmas-came-early-this-year/4205853069_3551a3f417.jpg" alt="Erik gets a Quaker Meadows hat"/>
</a>

 I got a hat for winter golf.

<a href="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2009-12-23-christmas-came-early-this-year/4206640140_1344df902f_o_d.jpg" target="_blank" class="flickr-image" title="A book!">
  <img src="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2009-12-23-christmas-came-early-this-year/4206640140_a00540ebf8.jpg" alt="A book!"/>
</a>

 Nora got a cool book called [Where's The Bone?](http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001F7BHRC?ie=UTF8&tag=eriksblog07-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B001F7BHRC), which involves moving a bone around into various scenes. The book is made of cloth, which makes a _lot_ of sense at her age.

<a href="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2009-12-23-christmas-came-early-this-year/4205897479_8cb59a1b58_o_d.jpg" target="_blank" class="flickr-image" title="Toddler Owner's Manual">
  <img src="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2009-12-23-christmas-came-early-this-year/4205897479_cfd633d2d2.jpg" alt="Toddler Owner's Manual"/>
</a>

 Marga got a [Toddler Owner's Manual](http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1594740267?ie=UTF8&tag=eriksblog07-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=1594740267). That should come in very handy!

<a href="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2009-12-23-christmas-came-early-this-year/4206662440_bb6c18b67b_o_d.jpg" target="_blank" class="flickr-image" title="Irish chocolates!">
  <img src="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2009-12-23-christmas-came-early-this-year/4206662440_4f46d597ed.jpg" alt="Irish chocolates!"/>
</a>

 I got a box of Irish chocolates and...

<a href="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2009-12-23-christmas-came-early-this-year/4206665274_d53d1d0ddd_o_d.jpg" target="_blank" class="flickr-image" title="An Irish Golf Hole Photograph">
  <img src="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2009-12-23-christmas-came-early-this-year/4206665274_6b26ba0738.jpg" alt="An Irish Golf Hole Photograph"/>
</a>

 A map of a beautiful golf hole in Ireland, all part of a plan to enjoy an Irish golf outing in 2011.

<a href="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2009-12-23-christmas-came-early-this-year/4206692836_073cd7fc35_o_d.jpg" target="_blank" class="flickr-image" title="Wrapping paper is more fun than presents">
  <img src="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2009-12-23-christmas-came-early-this-year/4206692836_a9d1355e0b.jpg" alt="Wrapping paper is more fun than presents"/>
</a>

 Nora enjoyed the wrapping paper so much, she was reluctant to open her gifts!

<a href="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2009-12-23-christmas-came-early-this-year/4205942805_4d8eaf6392_o_d.jpg" target="_blank" class="flickr-image" title="Ribbon sucking">
  <img src="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2009-12-23-christmas-came-early-this-year/4205942805_a1bb1b8a22.jpg" alt="Ribbon sucking"/>
</a>

 And all the ribbon!

<a href="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2009-12-23-christmas-came-early-this-year/4206711398_3be54cc324_o_d.jpg" target="_blank" class="flickr-image" title="A book about her family">
  <img src="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2009-12-23-christmas-came-early-this-year/4206711398_6d2654bb4a.jpg" alt="A book about her family"/>
</a>

 Another nice cloth book, this time called _My Family Garden_ with pictures of her grandparents and great-grandfather in it! Cool!

<a href="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2009-12-23-christmas-came-early-this-year/4206721536_3a4103c1c0_o_d.jpg" target="_blank" class="flickr-image" title="Bridge Calendar!">
  <img src="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2009-12-23-christmas-came-early-this-year/4206721536_fac4436043.jpg" alt="Bridge Calendar!"/>
</a>

 A bridge calendar for me. Am I good at this Happy Present Receiver face or what?

<a href="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2009-12-23-christmas-came-early-this-year/4206730254_f0cd43c056_o_d.jpg" target="_blank" class="flickr-image" title="Big box for Nora">
  <img src="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2009-12-23-christmas-came-early-this-year/4206730254_dbae235a73.jpg" alt="Big box for Nora"/>
</a>

 The biggest box of all was for Nora.

<a href="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2009-12-23-christmas-came-early-this-year/4206739296_e80af9a78c_o_d.jpg" target="_blank" class="flickr-image" title="Jack in the box!">
  <img src="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2009-12-23-christmas-came-early-this-year/4206739296_f4d8972fa7.jpg" alt="Jack in the box!"/>
</a>

 A Jack-In-The-Box! Cool! What could possible happen when Grandpa turns the handle...?

<a href="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2009-12-23-christmas-came-early-this-year/4205997651_578e4e4325_o_d.jpg" target="_blank" class="flickr-image" title="Starting early on Fear of Clowns">
  <img src="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2009-12-23-christmas-came-early-this-year/4205997651_e3581ce90c.jpg" alt="Starting early on Fear of Clowns"/>
</a>

 GAH! A clown! We have to start on her coulrophobia as early as we can.

<a href="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2009-12-23-christmas-came-early-this-year/4206769430_e84f241d7c_o_d.jpg" target="_blank" class="flickr-image" title="Albert Einstein action figure!">
  <img src="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2009-12-23-christmas-came-early-this-year/4206769430_bd102e735d.jpg" alt="Albert Einstein action figure!"/>
</a>

 An Albert Einstein action figure! Now I can act out my thought experiments in the third person!

<a href="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2009-12-23-christmas-came-early-this-year/4206018723_0769c4dc4b_o_d.jpg" target="_blank" class="flickr-image" title="Albert Einstein action figure!">
  <img src="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2009-12-23-christmas-came-early-this-year/4206018723_d2a8b3a69d.jpg" alt="Albert Einstein action figure!"/>
</a>

 Geeeeeeeeeeeeeky!

<a href="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2009-12-23-christmas-came-early-this-year/4206068671_3020cc3ce1_o_d.jpg" target="_blank" class="flickr-image" title="Mommy got a Drinking Happy Bird">
  <img src="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2009-12-23-christmas-came-early-this-year/4206068671_43f3bf7af7.jpg" alt="Mommy got a Drinking Happy Bird"/>
</a>

 Marga got one of those weird oscillating sippy birds, which totally fascinated Nora.

<a href="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2009-12-23-christmas-came-early-this-year/4206125213_5033acbed0_o_d.jpg" target="_blank" class="flickr-image" title="IMG_9182">
  <img src="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2009-12-23-christmas-came-early-this-year/4206125213_a6719721a2.jpg" alt="IMG_9182"/>
</a>

 Nora got a Peter Rabbit doll and book.

<a href="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2009-12-23-christmas-came-early-this-year/4206144757_ce26fa49fc_o_d.jpg" target="_blank" class="flickr-image" title="Belén got a green scarf!">
  <img src="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2009-12-23-christmas-came-early-this-year/4206144757_d6edb61dbc.jpg" alt="Belén got a green scarf!"/>
</a>

 Belén got a green cashmere scarf.

<a href="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2009-12-23-christmas-came-early-this-year/4206156593_a0f505c9ed_o_d.jpg" target="_blank" class="flickr-image" title="Marga got a red scarf!">
  <img src="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2009-12-23-christmas-came-early-this-year/4206156593_e6ab043ee4.jpg" alt="Marga got a red scarf!"/>
</a>

 And Marga got a red one...that Nora wanted to play with.

<a href="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2009-12-23-christmas-came-early-this-year/4206195459_a0ecd980c4_o_d.jpg" target="_blank" class="flickr-image" title="Cashmere scarf tickles!">
  <img src="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2009-12-23-christmas-came-early-this-year/4206195459_23dd96412b.jpg" alt="Cashmere scarf tickles!"/>
</a>

 Hee hee! That tickles!

<a href="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2009-12-23-christmas-came-early-this-year/4206985014_9d011dac01_o_d.jpg" target="_blank" class="flickr-image" title="Happy with his sweater">
  <img src="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2009-12-23-christmas-came-early-this-year/4206985014_4fe8b45463.jpg" alt="Happy with his sweater"/>
</a>

 A blue sweater for Paul.

<a href="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2009-12-23-christmas-came-early-this-year/4207034138_99edba1a51_o_d.jpg" target="_blank" class="flickr-image" title="Betsy gets some jewelry!">
  <img src="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2009-12-23-christmas-came-early-this-year/4207034138_cdeae6cc5e.jpg" alt="Betsy gets some jewelry!"/>
</a>

 And some fine jewelry for Betsy.

<a href="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2009-12-23-christmas-came-early-this-year/4206289273_221afbfb56_o_d.jpg" target="_blank" class="flickr-image" title="A jaw harp!">
  <img src="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2009-12-23-christmas-came-early-this-year/4206289273_783a9d5935.jpg" alt="A jaw harp!"/>
</a>

 I got a jaw harp...

<a href="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2009-12-23-christmas-came-early-this-year/4206299517_a24573224a_o_d.jpg" target="_blank" class="flickr-image" title="You're doing it wrong">
  <img src="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2009-12-23-christmas-came-early-this-year/4206299517_f3780331f4.jpg" alt="You're doing it wrong"/>
</a>

 ...which I have no clue how to play yet.

<a href="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2009-12-23-christmas-came-early-this-year/4206353503_5f3376c3a8_o_d.jpg" target="_blank" class="flickr-image" title="A flute for Marga">
  <img src="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2009-12-23-christmas-came-early-this-year/4206353503_61d7dbd455.jpg" alt="A flute for Marga"/>
</a>

 Marga got a flute!

<a href="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2009-12-23-christmas-came-early-this-year/4207179208_2fd4ddf8f9_o_d.jpg" target="_blank" class="flickr-image" title="Dinner with Grandpa">
  <img src="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2009-12-23-christmas-came-early-this-year/4207179208_b02f57dfb6.jpg" alt="Dinner with Grandpa"/>
</a>

 Soon it was time for Nora's dinner...

<a href="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2009-12-23-christmas-came-early-this-year/4206444601_ac5061f712_o_d.jpg" target="_blank" class="flickr-image" title="Snoozing with Grandpa">
  <img src="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2009-12-23-christmas-came-early-this-year/4206444601_35be95d8cc.jpg" alt="Snoozing with Grandpa"/>
</a>

 ...which completely knocked her and her grandfather out. Christmas morning is tiring!

The full set of all eighty photos is [available on Flickr](http://www.flickr.com/photos/erikrasmussen/sets/72157622926083549/). What a magical time of year!


Christmas Came Early This Year

Visiting Colindres in December


<a href="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2009-12-22-semana-del-pincho-2-laredo/4196357918_0554a95aec_o_d.jpg" target="_blank" class="flickr-image post-thumb" title="II Semana Del Pincho Brochure (cover)">
  <img src="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2009-12-22-semana-del-pincho-2-laredo/4196357918_c15a1f8fb8_t.jpg" alt="II Semana Del Pincho Brochure (cover)"/>
</a>

 by erikrasmussen, on Flickr")Just when I had almost forgotten about the [First Annual Tapa Week](/2008/12/22/semana-del-pincho-%E2%80%93-laredo/) from last December, it rolled around again and we celebrated the Second Annual Tapa Week this past week in nearby Laredo, Spain. I must say that this is quickly becoming my favorite festival of the year. There is little better in this world than going from bar to bar with friends and enjoying a fine wine and an elaborately constructed snack with each wine.

And it's not just that I'm a glutton for...er...gluttony. As I mentioned [last year](/2008/12/22/semana-del-pincho-%E2%80%93-laredo/), there are several reasons why I am in favor of this festival as a general local citizen. It gets people out into local establishments, spending money and applying social lubricant, it provides a stage for local restaurateurs to showcase their craft, and it generally makes for a more contented populous. Triple win! As with every Version 2.0 of anything, there were certain noticeable improvements. Last year the participants voted for their favorite tapa (a.k.a. _pincho_ in Northern Spain) by sending an SMS text message with their mobile phone. Just as you might expect, the winning bar was the one with the most mobile-enabled friends willing to pay the texting bills. This year, in each bar, they stamped your brochure, certifying that you had purchased the tapa there, and only once you had eight stamps collected could you vote for your favorite. This way each vote was made by someone that had sampled at least eight tapas in each of the seventeen participating bars.

<a href="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2009-12-22-semana-del-pincho-2-laredo/4195598595_4f084acf83_o_d.jpg" target="_blank" class="flickr-image" title="II Semana Del Pincho Brochure">
  <img src="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2009-12-22-semana-del-pincho-2-laredo/4195598595_9c69b495ba.jpg" alt="II Semana Del Pincho Brochure"/>
</a>

 A scan I made of the brochure ([view large](http://www.flickr.com/photos/erikrasmussen/4195598595/sizes/l/)). [The official PDF](http://www.laredo.es/archivos/Folleto_Semana_Del_Pincho_Laredo_2009.pdf) is also available from the Laredo Town Hall.

The pricing was the same as last year: 2€ with young wine (_cosechero_), grape juice (_mosto_), or small beer (_penique_), or 2.50€ for a better wine (_crianza_) or larger beer (_caña_). This pricing structure uses a simple psychological trick to make people buy the more expensive option as the difference in drink quality is much greater than the difference in tapa-drink combination price. Not that I was affected, as I'm a _crianza_ snob anyway.

Okay, let's get down to the food porn, shall we? These are presented in the order that we experienced them.

<a href="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2009-12-22-semana-del-pincho-2-laredo/4195513623_a7f07af058_o_d.jpg" target="_blank" class="flickr-image" title="Suprema de Pollo">
  <img src="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2009-12-22-semana-del-pincho-2-laredo/4195513623_2b314d503e.jpg" alt="Suprema de Pollo"/>
</a>

 **Suprema de Pollo** (Chicken Supreme) from _Cafeterí­a Berna_ - chicken breast, wild mushrooms, natural tomato, and a Modena reduction. A good start with a unique toothpick.

<a href="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2009-12-22-semana-del-pincho-2-laredo/4196276384_d814800d89_o_d.jpg" target="_blank" class="flickr-image" title="Croqueta Colón">
  <img src="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2009-12-22-semana-del-pincho-2-laredo/4196276384_7c6721be94.jpg" alt="Croqueta Colón"/>
</a>

 **Croqueta Colón** (Columbus Croquette) from _Cafeterí­a Colón_ - kangaroo croquette with an almond crisp. First of all, **yes, it was actually kangaroo meat!!** I asked the waitress, "So do you just go down to the local kangaroo slaughterhouse or what?", to which she replied, "I dunno. But there's a place in Santander that sells kangaroo meat." "Imported?", my father asked, cheekily.

I should explain about the translation from _Colón_ to Columbus. Apparently one of the many things left out in the total lie told to American school children about Christopher Columbus discovering America is the fact that his real name was [_Cristóbal Colón_](http://es.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cristóbal_Colón). I wonder where the "-umbus" came from?

<a href="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2009-12-22-semana-del-pincho-2-laredo/4196280830_91378b9463_o_d.jpg" target="_blank" class="flickr-image" title="Croqueta Colón (open)">
  <img src="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2009-12-22-semana-del-pincho-2-laredo/4196280830_58a12c5c3b.jpg" alt="Croqueta Colón (open)"/>
</a>

 by erikrasmussen, on Flickr") The creamy insides of the kangaroo croquette. The combination of the nutty almond exterior with the hot creamy interior was fantastic. I only wish I could have tasted the marsupial. It was a little like a [Hot Pocket](http://www.hotpockets.com/). Get it? Marsupial??? Oh, nevermind...

<a href="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2009-12-22-semana-del-pincho-2-laredo/4195528223_0424caf032_o_d.jpg" target="_blank" class="flickr-image" title="La Echu Gí¼ela">
  <img src="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2009-12-22-semana-del-pincho-2-laredo/4195528223_3803efef19.jpg" alt="La Echu Gí¼ela"/>
</a>

 **El Echu Gí¼ela** from _Bar La Viña_ - chapata bread, a bed of piquillo peppers, _galayu [a la romana](http://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/a_la_romana)_, with mayonnaise and parsley. Apparently _galayu_ is a local fish from the Cantabrian sea. This tapa was good, but it was more or less just a fried fish sandwich.

<a href="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2009-12-22-semana-del-pincho-2-laredo/4195532443_5125fc7b81_o_d.jpg" target="_blank" class="flickr-image" title="La Huerta Pejina">
  <img src="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2009-12-22-semana-del-pincho-2-laredo/4195532443_154f2c3c69.jpg" alt="La Huerta Pejina"/>
</a>

 **La Huerta Pejina** (Pejina Garden) from _El Sinfo_ - a base of chapata bread, a mixture of red peppers, green peppers, and onions, with a fried quail egg and finely grated cheese. The name, _La Huerta Pejina_, is the name of a local fruit and vegetable store. Last year the tapas given by _El Sinfo_ were our least favorite, and this one marked a significant improvement. The quail egg is a nice touch, as they are the perfect size for a small tapa.

<a href="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2009-12-22-semana-del-pincho-2-laredo/4195536449_94ecf8bb0a_o_d.jpg" target="_blank" class="flickr-image" title="Jibión con piperrada">
  <img src="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2009-12-22-semana-del-pincho-2-laredo/4195536449_4c47b3471d.jpg" alt="Jibión con piperrada"/>
</a>

 **Jibión con piperrada** ([Cuttlebone](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cuttlebone) with [Pipérade](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pip%C3%A9rade)) from _Restaurante El Guti_ - squid with a pipérade of vegetables. This tapa was fantastic. Unfortunately I didn't realize that there were two squid on my bread, so when I took a bite, the other one slipped away (as squid are wont to do) onto the floor, evoking in me the timeless human emotion of the dropped ice cream cone. Later in the week I had dinner at _El Guti_ and the owner, who is a friend of mine, gave me a few more. Delicious!

<a href="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2009-12-22-semana-del-pincho-2-laredo/4195541901_ab68c7d15d_o_d.jpg" target="_blank" class="flickr-image" title="Delicias de Marisco">
  <img src="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2009-12-22-semana-del-pincho-2-laredo/4195541901_b6b10515ba.jpg" alt="Delicias de Marisco"/>
</a>

 **Delicias de Marisco** (Seafood Delights) from _Restaurante El Guti_ - vegetables in seafood sauce bathed in prawn cream. The filling of this little pie was wonderful, but the crust was way too sweet for my tastes. I heard a fellow diner announce that she could eat a million of them, so to each his own, I suppose.

<a href="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2009-12-22-semana-del-pincho-2-laredo/4195547501_f058953d42_o_d.jpg" target="_blank" class="flickr-image" title="Cremoso">
  <img src="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2009-12-22-semana-del-pincho-2-laredo/4195547501_d1955e2c2f.jpg" alt="Cremoso"/>
</a>

 **Cremoso** (Creamy) from _Restaurante Emperador_ - cream cheese, dried fruits, and a Pedro Ximenez reduction. Also, as you can see from the photo, there was some unadvertised Spanish ham on top. At the time, I had no idea who this Pedro guy was, but The All-Knowing Internet has now informed me that it is [a type of white Spanish grape](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pedro_Xim%C3%A9nez). As I have said before, "There are no foods that you cannot improve by adding cream cheese," however, as a tapa in this competition, a big dollop of cream cheese on a slice of bread is just lazy and the taste is too rich. A weak entry.

<a href="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2009-12-22-semana-del-pincho-2-laredo/4196307310_55378461af_o_d.jpg" target="_blank" class="flickr-image" title="La Marina Company">
  <img src="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2009-12-22-semana-del-pincho-2-laredo/4196307310_e8a0daa8d1.jpg" alt="La Marina Company"/>
</a>

 **La Marina Company** from _La Marina Company_ - Iberian pig rib with homemade barbecue sauce. The description doesn't really match the photo, does it? The tapa they gave us was crispy like a Chinese spring roll, and inside was meat and a sweet sauce which very well may have been pork and barbecue respectively, but I was expecting to be licking some rib bones. It was very good, despite being very different from my expectations.

<a href="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2009-12-22-semana-del-pincho-2-laredo/4196312124_7416ee09e5_o_d.jpg" target="_blank" class="flickr-image" title="Milhojas de solomillo (Sirloin pastry)">
  <img src="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2009-12-22-semana-del-pincho-2-laredo/4196312124_43f8fab5f7.jpg" alt="Milhojas de solomillo (Sirloin pastry)"/>
</a>

 by erikrasmussen, on Flickr") **Milhojas de Solomillo** (Sirloin Pastry) from _Bar El Curro_ - a pastry base, sirloin steak, caramelized onions and glazed with caramel glass. Last year _El Curro_ was the maker of our favorite tapa, and this year they definitely won for the best presentation. This one was delicious.

<a href="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2009-12-22-semana-del-pincho-2-laredo/4195565841_83fe1967a0_o_d.jpg" target="_blank" class="flickr-image" title="Crónicas de las Garmillas - Mesón Restaurante La Abadia">
  <img src="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2009-12-22-semana-del-pincho-2-laredo/4195565841_46d564fd87.jpg" alt="Crónicas de las Garmillas - Mesón Restaurante La Abadia"/>
</a>

 **Crónicas de las Garmillas** (Garmillas Chronicles) from _Mesón Restaurante La Abadia_ - cheese mousse, champagne jelly, Spanish ham shavings and raspberry sauce. Garmillas is a local town known for their dairy production. Talk about an ingredients list! Unfortunately, high expectations often lead to disappointment, and they did in this case as well. The first two spoonfuls were _amazing_, but then you quickly get tired of eating something so sweet and rich with your red wine. Definitely the biggest let down of the week.

<a href="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2009-12-22-semana-del-pincho-2-laredo/4196317320_7efbfcecca_o_d.jpg" target="_blank" class="flickr-image" title="Something with respigos">
  <img src="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2009-12-22-semana-del-pincho-2-laredo/4196317320_5db4633c19.jpg" alt="Something with respigos"/>
</a>

 **Something-er-other with respigos** from _Mesón Restaurante La Abadia_. This restaurant only had one official tapa in the competition, but when we got there they told us they had two, so two of us got the cheesy one, and two of us got this respigo sandwich. [Respigos](/2009/03/13/respigos-colliding-gastronomic-cultures/) are a local spinach-like delicacy. I did not try this tapa, so I cannot comment on it, but it looks like it would go better with wine than the champagne jelly one.

<a href="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2009-12-22-semana-del-pincho-2-laredo/4195585247_6d55a7939a_o_d.jpg" target="_blank" class="flickr-image" title="Capricho Atalaya">
  <img src="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2009-12-22-semana-del-pincho-2-laredo/4195585247_4f7187088a.jpg" alt="Capricho Atalaya"/>
</a>

 **Capricho Atalaya** (Atalaya Whim) from _La Atalaya_ - goat cheese, caramelized onion, cherry tomato... The ellipsis is actually on the official ingredients list. I really loved this tapa, but then I'm a sucker for goat cheese. A good strong cheese on bread with a glass of wine is my idea of heaven. So simple, and yet so delightful.

<a href="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2009-12-22-semana-del-pincho-2-laredo/4195609215_0a0d8405fa_o_d.jpg" target="_blank" class="flickr-image" title="Mar y Tierra">
  <img src="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2009-12-22-semana-del-pincho-2-laredo/4195609215_b04be3ed26.jpg" alt="Mar y Tierra"/>
</a>

 **Mar y Tierra** (Sea and Land) from _La Casona_ - stuffed shrimp, cheese, and bacon on an Iberian ham bed with wild mushroom cream. We ate this one first on a particularly windy and cold outing, and the warmth it gave us was wonderful. I'm not sure what the shimp, cheese and bacon were stuffed into, exactly, but it was like a little fried patty. The mixture of mushrooms, ham, and cheese was delightful.

<a href="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2009-12-22-semana-del-pincho-2-laredo/4196374744_19ff10ae01_o_d.jpg" target="_blank" class="flickr-image" title="Sexta Fantasí­a">
  <img src="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2009-12-22-semana-del-pincho-2-laredo/4196374744_cdc6ebd101.jpg" alt="Sexta Fantasí­a"/>
</a>

 **Sexta Fantasí­a** (Sixth Fantasy) from _El Cartago_ - Spanish ham, foie, apple sauce and nuts. It was good. My wife particularly liked it since she's a big fan of foie. I was just sad that this was our last tapa of the competition.

<a href="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2009-12-22-semana-del-pincho-2-laredo/4195614481_4f4c66ea39_o_d.jpg" target="_blank" class="flickr-image" title="Sexta Fantasí­a">
  <img src="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2009-12-22-semana-del-pincho-2-laredo/4195614481_f7ce89825e.jpg" alt="Sexta Fantasí­a"/>
</a>

 Our two Sixth Fantasies from above. Since it was a cold tapa, they had them all prepared behind the bar and could whip them out right when you ordered them.

### And the winner is...

I don't know who the official winner of the week's competition is yet. But if I had to pick a favorite, it would be the _Croqueta Colón_. Over the week in our various outings I ended up eating three of them, and it was wonderful every time. And how often do you get to eat kangaroo meat? Second place would be the Sirloin Pastry from _El Curro_, and third would be the Cuttlebone from _El Guti_.

Between my parents, my sister-in-law, my wife and me, we filled up (8 stamps) four cards and ended up with three others with stamp counts of 3, 3, and 5, for a grand total of 43 tapas eaten. Not bad, huh?

My stomach is already rumbling in anticipation of next year!


Semana del Pincho 2 - Laredo


<a href="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2009-12-18-noras-first-christmas/4195464630_376fd7d44f_o_d.jpg" target="_blank" class="flickr-image post-thumb" title="Christmas Tree 2009">
  <img src="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2009-12-18-noras-first-christmas/4195464630_65d6d8da7a_t.jpg" alt="Christmas Tree 2009"/>
</a>

When my parents came to visit last week, they brought two suitcases, one for clothes and one for Christmas presents. So for the first time our little plastic Christmas tree looked like it should, rising up from a sea of wrapped toys and books and other goodies. In Spain (in my family at least), there is no tradition of putting presents under the tree to incite anticipatory speculation torture like we have in the United States. Here you just give the gift on Christmas or Epiphany and the wrapping paper only serves to conceal the item for about seven seconds before it is ripped open. They don't know what they are missing.  <a href="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2009-12-18-noras-first-christmas/4195464630_376fd7d44f_o_d.jpg" target="_blank" class="flickr-image" title="Christmas Tree 2009">
  <img src="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2009-12-18-noras-first-christmas/4195464630_65d6d8da7a_b.jpg" alt="Christmas Tree 2009"/>
</a>

 Now _that's_ what I call a Christmas tree!

<a href="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2009-12-18-noras-first-christmas/4194803959_914067ba5c_o_d.jpg" target="_blank" class="flickr-image" title="Curious about the tree in the living room">
  <img src="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2009-12-18-noras-first-christmas/4194803959_90a55cc151.jpg" alt="Curious about the tree in the living room"/>
</a>

 Nora was fascinated by having a tree in the house.

<a href="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2009-12-18-noras-first-christmas/4195480002_416418522c_o_d.jpg" target="_blank" class="flickr-image" title="Nora with Christmas Presents">
  <img src="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2009-12-18-noras-first-christmas/4195480002_84b1aef2e4.jpg" alt="Nora with Christmas Presents"/>
</a>

<a href="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2009-12-18-noras-first-christmas/4194737105_2f3e24b01e_o_d.jpg" target="_blank" class="flickr-image" title="Nora with Christmas Presents">
  <img src="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2009-12-18-noras-first-christmas/4194737105_de2d45ca1d.jpg" alt="Nora with Christmas Presents"/>
</a>

Nora's American grandparents brought her two Christmas ornaments to commemorate her first Christmas. The first has a little teddy bear with a bottle and pacifier, and the second is a little ceramic rattle.

<a href="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2009-12-18-noras-first-christmas/4195553104_dc2025fbdb_o_d.jpg" target="_blank" class="flickr-image" title="Nora's First Christmas">
  <img src="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2009-12-18-noras-first-christmas/4195553104_c39d19fcb6_b.jpg" alt="Nora's First Christmas"/>
</a>

<a href="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2009-12-18-noras-first-christmas/4194749991_9d405693b4_o_d.jpg" target="_blank" class="flickr-image" title="Nora's First Christmas">
  <img src="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2009-12-18-noras-first-christmas/4194749991_b2d62f2da3.jpg" alt="Nora's First Christmas"/>
</a>

<a href="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2009-12-18-noras-first-christmas/4195533556_46abd5be18_o_d.jpg" target="_blank" class="flickr-image" title="Nora's First Christmas">
  <img src="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2009-12-18-noras-first-christmas/4195533556_6caeb94afc.jpg" alt="Nora's First Christmas"/>
</a>

<a href="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2009-12-18-noras-first-christmas/4195677198_0f7f01f2a9_o_d.jpg" target="_blank" class="flickr-image" title="Nora's First Christmas copy">
  <img src="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2009-12-18-noras-first-christmas/4195677198_2247d7d5ae.jpg" alt="Nora's First Christmas copy"/>
</a>

 I look forward to future Christmases when we pull this ornament out of the box and then go look up this photo to remember how she was this Christmas: Absolutely beautiful.


Nora's First Christmas


<a href="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2009-12-17-the-feeding-mirror/4193098152_8de91a9d59_o_d.jpg" target="_blank" class="flickr-image post-thumb" title="Grandpa feeding Nora (crop)">
  <img src="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2009-12-17-the-feeding-mirror/4193098152_19e84e0b6f_t.jpg" alt="Grandpa feeding Nora (crop)"/>
</a>

 by erikrasmussen, on Flickr")During their visit, my parents very much enjoyed feeding their granddaughter her lunchtime vegetable puree and her afternoon fruit. Feeding Nora is one of the best times (both frustrating and adorable) I usually get to spend with her, and I delighted in the opportunity to share the experience with my folks. In my couple months of feeding her from a spoon, have found that it is pretty much impossible to feed her without opening your mouth big when you want her to do the same. It's a natural human reflex. The fact that she has not yet reached the point where she can mimic the body movements of someone else does not stop us (me, my wife, my parents, and everyone I've seen feed her) from trying to will her mouth open with our own gaping jaw. It's quite a funny phenomenon.  <a href="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2009-12-17-the-feeding-mirror/4193065114_731576edcf_o_d.jpg" target="_blank" class="flickr-image" title="Grandpa feeding Nora">
  <img src="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2009-12-17-the-feeding-mirror/4193065114_a61f8734c1.jpg" alt="Grandpa feeding Nora"/>
</a>

<a href="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2009-12-17-the-feeding-mirror/4193071804_7391fe0f90_o_d.jpg" target="_blank" class="flickr-image" title="Grandpa feeding Nora">
  <img src="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2009-12-17-the-feeding-mirror/4193071804_e0f71311b7.jpg" alt="Grandpa feeding Nora"/>
</a>

<a href="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2009-12-17-the-feeding-mirror/4192316137_f82a0d908c_o_d.jpg" target="_blank" class="flickr-image" title="Grandpa feeding Nora">
  <img src="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2009-12-17-the-feeding-mirror/4192316137_9e5bff6460.jpg" alt="Grandpa feeding Nora"/>
</a>

<a href="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2009-12-17-the-feeding-mirror/4192318023_33e6ac3863_o_d.jpg" target="_blank" class="flickr-image" title="Grandma feeding Nora">
  <img src="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2009-12-17-the-feeding-mirror/4192318023_ef4d3efa46.jpg" alt="Grandma feeding Nora"/>
</a>

<a href="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2009-12-17-the-feeding-mirror/4193085892_65f792fe9f_o_d.jpg" target="_blank" class="flickr-image" title="Grandma feeding Nora">
  <img src="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2009-12-17-the-feeding-mirror/4193085892_f66536dde1.jpg" alt="Grandma feeding Nora"/>
</a>


The Feeding Mirror


<a href="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2009-12-16-rasmussen-blanket/4190628644_2a20850c15_o_d.jpg" target="_blank" class="flickr-image post-thumb" title="Nora face crop">
  <img src="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2009-12-16-rasmussen-blanket/4190628644_3bbfed9f2c_t.jpg" alt="Nora face crop"/>
</a>

Some years ago, Thelma, a friend of my mother's, was traveling somewhere in the Midwestern United States and spotted this blanket. It was clearly made to celebrate or advertise a company specializing in bulldozers, backhoes, and other heavy machinery. A quick Google search would lead me to believe that it is probably for [Rasmussen Equipment Company](http://www.rasmussenequipment.com/store/about.htm). Anyway, Thelma bought it for my mother because it had her last name on it. At some point the blanket was given to me, and I have had it in my possession for many years now. Since we moved into our house, it has been on our sofa, often pulled down on top of the sofa's occupant(s) on chilly evenings.  <a href="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2009-12-16-rasmussen-blanket/4189840793_3d8f2bedcc_o_d.jpg" target="_blank" class="flickr-image" title="Nora is a Rasmussen">
  <img src="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2009-12-16-rasmussen-blanket/4189840793_cabb8a25d1.jpg" alt="Nora is a Rasmussen"/>
</a>

 Nora seems content to be a Rasmussen, but then she doesn't yet know anything about safety, quality or service.


Rasmussen Blanket


<a href="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2009-12-14-ncssm-class-of-1996/4177274384_4018b190ff_o_d.jpg" target="_blank" class="flickr-image post-thumb" title="North Carolina School of Science and Mathematics">
  <img src="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2009-12-14-ncssm-class-of-1996/4177274384_86c0aa5146_t.jpg" alt="North Carolina School of Science and Mathematics"/>
</a>

My parents are visiting, and they brought a [set of photos](http://www.flickr.com/photos/erikrasmussen/sets/72157622856447903/) that I haven't seen for a very long time. They are photos that I took just before and during my high school graduation from the North Carolina School of Science and Mathematics on June 1, 1996. Needless to say, it was quite a blast from the past. There's nothing like a photo of the dorm room you lived in fourteen years ago to bring back a flood of memories. My time at NCSSM was definitely the peak of my academic career. Everything (i.e. a four-year bachelor's degree in Computer Science from NC State) after that was a slow glide downhill.  One thing that amazed me – but shouldn't have given my current blogging photo-tagging tendencies – was what a good job I had done writing on the back of the photos the first and last names of everyone in the photo and what university they were going to. Some of them also had cheeky comments, some of which I will share below.

Also funny was that the back of the photo paper is watermarked, "Kodak, Official Sponsor of the Olympic Games." I guess that would be the Atlanta 1996 Summer Olympics. Ha!

<a href="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2009-12-14-ncssm-class-of-1996/4177274384_4018b190ff_o_d.jpg" target="_blank" class="flickr-image" title="North Carolina School of Science and Mathematics">
  <img src="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2009-12-14-ncssm-class-of-1996/4177274384_86c0aa5146.jpg" alt="North Carolina School of Science and Mathematics"/>
</a>

 The front entrance to the school. The first year, I lived on 3rd Bryan, on the third floor of the building you see. One of those was my window.

<a href="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2009-12-14-ncssm-class-of-1996/4176508127_79dac03bb3_o_d.jpg" target="_blank" class="flickr-image" title="Tim and Erik">
  <img src="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2009-12-14-ncssm-class-of-1996/4176508127_e150d9c71d.jpg" alt="Tim and Erik"/>
</a>

 My roommate, Tim Carle. We got along great. Also, he looks just like this now.

<a href="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2009-12-14-ncssm-class-of-1996/4177241418_a068b39044_o_d.jpg" target="_blank" class="flickr-image" title="Tim Juggling">
  <img src="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2009-12-14-ncssm-class-of-1996/4177241418_766b85b78e.jpg" alt="Tim Juggling"/>
</a>

 The back of this photo reads, "Tim, practicing a trick that Erik taught him." This is the door to our dorm room in Hill House, Room 206.

<a href="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2009-12-14-ncssm-class-of-1996/4176483673_98d941d399_o_d.jpg" target="_blank" class="flickr-image" title="Arthur Williams, moving out">
  <img src="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2009-12-14-ncssm-class-of-1996/4176483673_97b8a74b7b.jpg" alt="Arthur Williams, moving out"/>
</a>

 My good friend from across the hall, Arthur Williams. We played many an hour of Warcraft with a null modem cable, and later an ARCnet coax cable, running across the hall.

<a href="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2009-12-14-ncssm-class-of-1996/4177240252_d76c350ed2_o_d.jpg" target="_blank" class="flickr-image" title="Victor, signing my yearbook">
  <img src="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2009-12-14-ncssm-class-of-1996/4177240252_aca19c8cee.jpg" alt="Victor, signing my yearbook"/>
</a>

 Arthur's roommate, Victor Lee. The roommate matching algorithm that the school used matched me with Victor our first year. We lived together for a couple weeks before he, very troubled, came to me and asked if he could switch roommates. It turned out to be a great move for both of us.

When they mailed us our roommate assignments a couple months before moving to the school, Victor called me to make arrangements on who would bring the CD player and the fridge, etc. At the end of the conversation, he said, "So, what are you?" I said, "Huh?" He responded, "You know, like I'm Korean, what are you?" Laughing, I said, "I'm just a white kid."

<a href="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2009-12-14-ncssm-class-of-1996/4176476797_2eae274abe_o_d.jpg" target="_blank" class="flickr-image" title="Bucky, packing to leave">
  <img src="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2009-12-14-ncssm-class-of-1996/4176476797_f03d529156.jpg" alt="Bucky, packing to leave"/>
</a>

 My friend, Bucky. He was always fascinated by dinosaurs and is now a successful paleontologist. A couple years ago he was interviewed by news clown Bill O'Reilly.

<a href="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2009-12-14-ncssm-class-of-1996/4176475513_5c9a56740f_o_d.jpg" target="_blank" class="flickr-image" title="Arica holds photo booth photos of her and Roger">
  <img src="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2009-12-14-ncssm-class-of-1996/4176475513_a8df0daff1.jpg" alt="Arica holds photo booth photos of her and Roger"/>
</a>

 My friend Arica.

<a href="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2009-12-14-ncssm-class-of-1996/4176473075_cc21d00115_o_d.jpg" target="_blank" class="flickr-image" title="Arica and Erik">
  <img src="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2009-12-14-ncssm-class-of-1996/4176473075_6da9a6deea.jpg" alt="Arica and Erik"/>
</a>

 See? I told you she was my friend. This must have been moving day, because otherwise they didn't allow girls into the halls of the boys' dorms.

<a href="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2009-12-14-ncssm-class-of-1996/4176474433_1ab72a0c2b_o_d.jpg" target="_blank" class="flickr-image" title="Susan and Roger">
  <img src="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2009-12-14-ncssm-class-of-1996/4176474433_197171b2ce.jpg" alt="Susan and Roger"/>
</a>

 Roger Mills-Koonce, failing to hide his interest in Susan. Susan was my prom date.

<a href="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2009-12-14-ncssm-class-of-1996/4177217672_92c80f93b1_o_d.jpg" target="_blank" class="flickr-image" title="Pizzy Paul">
  <img src="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2009-12-14-ncssm-class-of-1996/4177217672_14b147200c.jpg" alt="Pizzy Paul"/>
</a>

 My friend Paul, who would spend many an hour on that sofa, which followed me from NCSSM to my college dorm, and then to my college apartment. Paul is now a work colleague of mine.

<a href="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2009-12-14-ncssm-class-of-1996/4177220438_fd0d8b04a6_o_d.jpg" target="_blank" class="flickr-image" title="My computer in 1996">
  <img src="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2009-12-14-ncssm-class-of-1996/4177220438_47d4ea8c78.jpg" alt="My computer in 1996"/>
</a>

 My computer and desk in my dorm room. That little vertical laser printer on the left was amazing. I love that the word "HOME!!" is written up on the M. C. Escher wall calendar.

<a href="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2009-12-14-ncssm-class-of-1996/4176462237_1cd5e7f694_o_d.jpg" target="_blank" class="flickr-image" title="Roommate Tim in Room 206">
  <img src="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2009-12-14-ncssm-class-of-1996/4176462237_414bf20c19.jpg" alt="Roommate Tim in Room 206"/>
</a>

 The other side of my room, including my roommate's desk and rear end. Note the contrast of his Catholic wall calendar to my Escher one.

<a href="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2009-12-14-ncssm-class-of-1996/4176464519_1cf7cf7686_o_d.jpg" target="_blank" class="flickr-image" title="Hawk snoozes">
  <img src="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2009-12-14-ncssm-class-of-1996/4176464519_e85531255c.jpg" alt="Hawk snoozes"/>
</a>

 On the back of this photo is written, "Hawk Hawkins. He likes to fall asleep in other people's rooms." Funny.

<a href="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2009-12-14-ncssm-class-of-1996/4177226016_ae048b2386_o_d.jpg" target="_blank" class="flickr-image" title="Hacky-sacking in 2nd Hill">
  <img src="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2009-12-14-ncssm-class-of-1996/4177226016_f3494e2eab.jpg" alt="Hacky-sacking in 2nd Hill"/>
</a>

 Playing hacky-sack in the hallway. In the middle is Michael, the only person in these pictures to [attend my wedding](http://www.flickr.com/photos/winfrey/1793076883/in/set-72157602766626912/). He and I started several small companies throughout college and are still work colleagues today.

<a href="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2009-12-14-ncssm-class-of-1996/4176465859_0020e8c5ca_o_d.jpg" target="_blank" class="flickr-image" title="Eric and Anne">
  <img src="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2009-12-14-ncssm-class-of-1996/4176465859_79eec0fc16.jpg" alt="Eric and Anne"/>
</a>

 On this photo is written, "Eric and Anne in the 1st Hill Lounge, their second home." These two were inseparable since Day 1 of NCSSM and all throughout college. A quick Google search tells me that they somehow [waited all the way until 2003 to get married](http://www.bessie.org/photos/index.cgi?mode=view&album=/Raleigh%20-%20September%202003%20-%20Raines-Leland%20Wedding).

<a href="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2009-12-14-ncssm-class-of-1996/4176487457_b90711650c_o_d.jpg" target="_blank" class="flickr-image" title="Bored, 6:00 AM, Graduation Day">
  <img src="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2009-12-14-ncssm-class-of-1996/4176487457_a54e48fbf1.jpg" alt="Bored, 6:00 AM, Graduation Day"/>
</a>

 I love this photo. On the back is written, "Bored at 6:00 AM, Graduation Day".

<a href="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2009-12-14-ncssm-class-of-1996/4177247746_12029f0e36_o_d.jpg" target="_blank" class="flickr-image" title="Graduation Day with Parents">
  <img src="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2009-12-14-ncssm-class-of-1996/4177247746_aedc5674f0.jpg" alt="Graduation Day with Parents"/>
</a>

 Graduation day with my folks. On the back is written, "Photo taken by Roger Mills-Koonce." What a bizarre detail to have recorded.

<a href="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2009-12-14-ncssm-class-of-1996/4176509723_094abae10c_o_d.jpg" target="_blank" class="flickr-image" title="The Graduate, NCSSM Class of 1996">
  <img src="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2009-12-14-ncssm-class-of-1996/4176509723_0a6c0c169b.jpg" alt="The Graduate, NCSSM Class of 1996"/>
</a>

 The Graduate himself. That piece of paper might the be one I'm most proud of.


NCSSM, Class of 1996


<a href="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2009-12-09-well-informed/4171315855_593fbbe868_o_d.jpg" target="_blank" class="flickr-image post-thumb" title="Nora with the remotes">
  <img src="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2009-12-09-well-informed/4171315855_ab75ae847f_t.jpg" alt="Nora with the remotes"/>
</a>

This morning when Nora got up, I fed her breakfast and set her on the couch while I went about organizing a few things around the house. I left the room for about two minutes, and when I returned, there she was, in the same place I'd left her, with both the television and cable box remotes in her lap, watching some Spanish political pundit on the news. The television had been off when I left.  Recently she's been very fond of the remote controls. I'd like to think that she's noticed how much _we_ have them in our hands and has attributed some importance to them, but I think it's really just the nice size and the way she can't fit it all the way into her mouth, so rather than bite on it, she can only rub her teeth against the plastic.

<a href="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2009-12-09-well-informed/4171302181_3f5c239215_o_d.jpg" target="_blank" class="flickr-image" title="Watching the morning news">
  <img src="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2009-12-09-well-informed/4171302181_c71c3b8284.jpg" alt="Watching the morning news"/>
</a>

 This is how I found her.

<a href="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2009-12-09-well-informed/4171315855_593fbbe868_o_d.jpg" target="_blank" class="flickr-image" title="Nora with the remotes">
  <img src="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2009-12-09-well-informed/4171315855_ab75ae847f.jpg" alt="Nora with the remotes"/>
</a>

 Looking guilty with the remotes.

<a href="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2009-12-09-well-informed/4172085440_75245ffd70_o_d.jpg" target="_blank" class="flickr-image" title="Nora with the remotes">
  <img src="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2009-12-09-well-informed/4172085440_1bc7b3675c.jpg" alt="Nora with the remotes"/>
</a>

 Fish face with remote.


Well Informed


![thumb](https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2009-12-07-manic/2.jpg)When we got home from visiting my in-laws last week, Nora was a little ball of energy. Flailing and chirping. If she could walk, she'd have been zooming around the house knocking things over. Once she calmed down a little bit, I recorded a short video of her antics. It was this behavior that lead me to [tweet](http://twitter.com/erikras/status/6180239950):

> Not sure how to describe daughter's behavior this evening, but the unit of measurement would be kilotons of TNT.


Manic


<a href="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2009-12-04-fruteria-how-to-open-a-small-business/4156968021_157c6c688f_o_d.jpg" target="_blank" class="flickr-image post-thumb" title="Fruit Stand Conversation">
  <img src="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2009-12-04-fruteria-how-to-open-a-small-business/4156968021_30650ebfa5_t.jpg" alt="Fruit Stand Conversation"/>
</a>

Recently a small shop in town selling decorative housewares, that had been there for the entire four years we've lived here, went out of business. While it was always interesting to look into their shop window, I think I only went in once, and the shopkeeper wasn't very pleasant, so nothing was purchased. The shop was on a prime corner right in the center of town. I can't think of a better location for a shop in town. So of course I was pretty curious as to who would jump on that choice piece of real estate. It was empty for a couple weeks, and then the painting started.  The facade that used to be white was painted yellow, and plastic-covered blown up photos of fruit were added. This trick has been used by a candy shop in town as well. There's something about seeing [enormous pieces of candy](/2009/07/13/skittles/) that make you want to eat some. Then one day it opened. The layout of the inside is gorgeous and every fruit and vegetable is easily visible. And they always have a good selection of everything, including exotic fruits like [_higos chumbos_](/2008/08/28/higos-chumbos-prickly-sweetness/). Immediately the place was filled with customers.

I walk by this shop every day, and the husband and wife that run the place are always so busy. If there's a customer, they are serving them, and when there's not, they are loading crates of fruit off a van, reorganizing displays, or cleaning. I've only been in there twice, and each time, I was barely over the threshold before someone was asking me what I wanted. The place is spotless and looks great at all times. That takes a _lot_ of work!

This place pleases me because it's a model for a good work ethic. If you are willing to work hard, be nice to customers, and keep your shop looking great, then you can be a success. (Or at least appear to be, as I don't have any idea how profitable the place is.)

### Photograph

I took this photograph with my HD video camera. The tilting viewfinder and the 15x zoom allows for very covert photography. I was about 50 meters away at the time. Anyway, I like this photograph for lots of reasons. It captures the small Spanish town atmosphere of a shop owner chatting with an old man on a bicycle. You'd be surprised how many old men [on bikes](http://www.flickr.com/photos/erikrasmussen/2371421353/) there are around here. Too bad about the fence post in the foreground.

<a href="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2009-12-04-fruteria-how-to-open-a-small-business/4156968021_157c6c688f_o_d.jpg" target="_blank" class="flickr-image" title="Fruit Stand Conversation">
  <img src="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2009-12-04-fruteria-how-to-open-a-small-business/4156968021_30650ebfa5.jpg" alt="Fruit Stand Conversation"/>
</a>


Fruteria - How to open a small business


<a href="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2009-12-04-nuts-snails-oranges-moss-and-leaves/4156967011_d77b149b55_o_d.jpg" target="_blank" class="flickr-image post-thumb" title="Autumn Benz">
  <img src="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2009-12-04-nuts-snails-oranges-moss-and-leaves/4156967011_e9d02d90ed_t.jpg" alt="Autumn Benz"/>
</a>

Last week, when I took my walk around town with my video camera, which resulted in some [moving photographs](/2009/11/26/moving-photographs/), and a photo of [a local fruitful business](/2009/12/04/fruteria-how-to-open-a-small-business/), I also took some other still photos that I like a lot. So here's a little medley of these photos.  <a href="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2009-12-04-nuts-snails-oranges-moss-and-leaves/4156967011_d77b149b55_o_d.jpg" target="_blank" class="flickr-image" title="Autumn Benz">
  <img src="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2009-12-04-nuts-snails-oranges-moss-and-leaves/4156967011_e9d02d90ed.jpg" alt="Autumn Benz"/>
</a>

 I noticed this leaf nestled snugly under this hood ornament. The symbolic, reflective, natural, and seasonal aspects made for a great photograph. And then right as I was focusing, the leaf blew away. So I picked it, or one of the hundreds like it, off the ground and posed it as it had been. But it blew away again. After about six tries, I finally got this photograph which is blurrier than I'd like due to my having to remove my hand holding the leaf so quickly. Oh well. I call it "Autumn Benz".

<a href="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2009-12-04-nuts-snails-oranges-moss-and-leaves/4157728628_78bef2ba0a_o_d.jpg" target="_blank" class="flickr-image" title="Winter Orange Tree">
  <img src="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2009-12-04-nuts-snails-oranges-moss-and-leaves/4157728628_86fdc5e917.jpg" alt="Winter Orange Tree"/>
</a>

 For some reason the citrus fruit trees around town really don't like to let go of their fruit. The result is some enormous lemons and oranges that I'm pretty sure are a couple years old. Another curious consequence is the sight of a tree in the winter, devoid of leaves, but full of fruit. Behind the tree is the apartment building they are finally completing next to ours. We've had [cranes obscuring our view](/2007/12/03/cranes-at-dusk/) for over two years now!

<a href="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2009-12-04-nuts-snails-oranges-moss-and-leaves/4156969777_04a3a8ff52_o_d.jpg" target="_blank" class="flickr-image" title="Nut Among Moss">
  <img src="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2009-12-04-nuts-snails-oranges-moss-and-leaves/4156969777_d5982b04f6.jpg" alt="Nut Among Moss"/>
</a>

 I always enjoy examining the right-at-eye-level moss atop this wall, and that day I found some freckled nuts that had fallen from the tree above.

<a href="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2009-12-04-nuts-snails-oranges-moss-and-leaves/4156971069_dc06da0043_o_d.jpg" target="_blank" class="flickr-image" title="Nut Among Moss">
  <img src="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2009-12-04-nuts-snails-oranges-moss-and-leaves/4156971069_85d9a3b4b1.jpg" alt="Nut Among Moss"/>
</a>

 Some people are [nuts about moss](http://www.flickr.com/groups/1077132@N23/).

<a href="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2009-12-04-nuts-snails-oranges-moss-and-leaves/4157731894_7ee0fc25b3_o_d.jpg" target="_blank" class="flickr-image" title="Snail Shell">
  <img src="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2009-12-04-nuts-snails-oranges-moss-and-leaves/4157731894_b8d917b292.jpg" alt="Snail Shell"/>
</a>

 Some of the snails around town are simply gorgeous. Both visually and [mathematically](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Golden_ratio).


Nuts, snails, oranges, moss, and leaves


![thumb](https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2009-12-03-zoe-keating-is-awesome/IMG_0836.thumb.jpg)For several months now, my favorite podcast has been [_Are We Alone?_](http://radio.seti.org/), put out by SETI. At first one might think that a podcast from an organization that has listened to the heavens for years without hearing so much as a peep from the aliens might not have much to talk about, but it turns out that they do: astronomy, anthropology, biology, psychology, etc. It's more about understanding how humans became what we are and extrapolating that to speculate about alien life.  At some point in the past month, I subscribed to the podcast from WNYC called [_Radio Lab_](http://www.wnyc.org/shows/radiolab/). I immediately fell in love with _Radio Lab_ and have been devouring their back catalog of podcasts for a couple weeks now. _Radio Lab_ is somewhere between _Are We Alone?_, which is very heavily scientific, and _This American Life_, which is all about good storytelling. They do some really impressive work with sound mixing that makes their podcast come alive.

In [a recent episode](http://mediasearch.wnyc.org/m/20759124/quantum-cello.htm), _Radio Lab_ introduced me an artist named [Zoí« Keating](http://www.zoekeating.com/). She's a classically trained cellist and complete computer geek who uses her cello, her MacBook Pro, some pedals, and some Applescripts to make the most gorgeous ambient cello music all by herself. It's one thing for a single person to record a dozen tracks in a studio to compose a song, but it's a completely different thing to do it all live in realtime. I must admit that she warmed my heart by describing her song composition process in terms of writing a computer program.

It's been years since I've paid for music, but I bought both Zoí«'s albums off iTunes the other day and have been enjoying them immensely. It's good music for concentration on work. I guess that's why they call the genre "ambient".

Check out these two videos and see if she doesn't impress you, too. The first is an interview with her, and the second is a performance.

Oh, and she's pretty entertaining to [follow on Twitter](http://twitter.com/zoecello), too.


Zoí« Keating Is Awesome


Recently I've been particularly enjoying living in a small town. Many of the shopkeepers and bartenders know me, most not by name, and even some not by nationality, but they all say hello and some of the bartenders will even start preparing my drink when they see me enter.

### Profit Presbyopia

Several years ago, when we first moved here, I noticed that when I wore my glasses, which I mainly only use for driving, things were a little bit more blurry than they had been previously. My prescription was changing. So I went to the local optometrist shop and explained the situation. She sat me down in the chair and swung that big apparatus in front of me and we went about determining my perfect prescription with me reading letters off a faraway screen. She agreed that my prescription had changed slightly, but counseled me that, for such a small change, it wasn't worth me buying new frames and lenses until my eyesight changed some more. I said thank you and goodbye and walked out of the store, astonished that someone would talk a customer out of a sale like that. In the years that followed we have purchased sunglasses from that optometrist for [my wife](/2007/08/01/10-days-of-bachelorhood/), [my daughter](/2009/10/19/the-futures-so-bright/), and myself, a several hundred euro reward for the optometrist being such an honest, helpful person.

### Rounding Down

A couple weeks ago, one of Marga's rings found its way onto our bedroom floor, and got stepped on in the dark by my luckily slippered foot, bending it considerably. I took it to the local jeweler, from whom we bought [our wedding rings](/2007/09/24/alianzas/). We also know the woman there because she has a daughter two months younger than ours and was in our birthing classes. They took the ring, said the "rounding" procedure would cost about 10€ and a week to fix, since they had to send it off to their workshop. A week later I went back and the ring was round again. I asked how much it cost, and they said, "Nah, forget about it."

### Package Deal

Today I was out walking my daughter around town. As I walked, I was wondering when the package I was expecting would be arriving. When we were clear on the opposite side of town, we walked by a postal van, and a postal worker walked up to me and said, "Hey, don't you live at \[my-address-redacted\]?" "Um, yeah." "I've got a package for you, but it's heavy. I've got a few more things to deliver, and I see that you're out for a walk. How about I deliver it to you in thirty minutes? Can you be there?" I agreed, went to the grocery store and then home to wait for my package, which arrived right on time.


15 posts from December, 2009