blissfully silent

I´ve been home alone for the last two hours and the house is blissfully silent. I ate some chicken with peanut curry (which I made again yesterday) when I got home from my private lesson (switched to today on account of the puente on Friday) and have been geeking out on email and Facebook ever since. Have not had to listen to other people's music or the sound of pots and pans banging around in the kitchen. It's very dark outside and I've lit a scented candle and I feel like I have my own private little retreat. Aahhh... Now all I'm missing is a massage.

The last few weeks have been very difficult emotionally. I've been yo-yoing back and forth between wanting to settle in Portland after Christmas and wanting to stick it out with Madrid and try to make the most of this experience. But in the last three or four days I've been feeling much better and am actually looking forward to coming back to Madrid after Christmas. I look forward to all the traveling I'll be able to do this spring. And now that my social life is picking up a bit, I'm feeling like I might be able to make a few more close friends...or at least keep myself busy. My change in mood is also aided by a rapidly approaching pay day. Being poor isn't fun no matter where you are. Though at least I don't have it as bad as those ex-employees of Nova in Japan who are broke and homeless!

I'm completely smitten with the idea of spending a week or so in Bavaria. I don't know where the idea came from all of a sudden...maybe remembering family's and friend's pictures from their travels in the Alps or something...but now I can't get it out of my head. It looks absolutely gorgeous: lush forests, fairybook castles, quaint villages. Now I just have to figure out the how and when. Hmm...

The girls and I are supposed to head to Toledo tomorrow for the day. Will see whether that actually happens. I have a feeling tonight is going to be a late one for us.