Tuesday, December 28, 2010

Egypt

* Christina is going to Egypt on vacation soon. Barbara reads from an article in the NY Post.

"Did you see this? Six US tourists were just killed in Egypt. And then eight Belgians were killed there last year. You'd better not get a tour guide when you're out there," Barbara says.

* We get a copy of the newspapers at the corner. The guy who hands the copies to us asks us how our holidays were.

"Mine was good. Real good," he says. "I got myself a six-pack of Coors Light and watched some basketball."

* Charlie notes that the newspaper guy is all bundled up and has a scarf on.

"I guess you can't see me smile," he says.

Tuesday, December 7, 2010

Sleep Time

* Christina nudges me.

"How come you are so quiet today," she asks. "Are you meditating?"

I tell her that I've finished my "self-actualization" drills.

"What would you like to talk about," I ask.

"Anything with you," she says.

We start talking about Spanish television shows ranging from El Gran Juego de la Oca to Super Sabado Gigante.

In the middle of the conversation she falls asleep.

* The van is silent.

"You know, I still can't believe people made fortunes selling bottled water," one of the guys up front says.

No one responds.

* We make excellent time on the road today. I compliment Charlie.

"It's not me," he says. "It's Hanukkah and there's no Jews on the road."

Stevie Wonder

* It's the day before Thanksgiving and a lot of people have off. Charlie's van doesn't arrive. Instead, Charlie's MINIVAN arrives. It's an odd model. When you open the door, it slides automatically and makes a beeping noise like a truck backing up.

* We're in the minivan.

"What did you say," Nick asks to me.

I realize that I have a song stuck in my head.

"Is it 'I Just Called to Say I Love You," he asks.