Happy birthday Old MacDonald

I went to Ferdy's class to read a book in English today. I picked Old MacDonald had a Farm. We learned the animals and their sounds. Ferdy was listening....but i think a few details may have passed him by.

The First Try:

The Second Try: Starting to get a little confused.

The Third Try: Artistic License

I think i will just dance...it is sooo much easier!!!

Ferdy's Battle of the Centries

I recently read an article by a scientist who stated, that in his opinion, time travel was possible and would be common in the near future. Apparently, Ferdy got the memo and was practicing tonight for the epic battle that could ensue if man was to screw around with space travel. Doesn't anyone watch star trek or harry potter...time is not something you mess with. There are several steps in setting up for the battle:

Step 1: Set your Location:

The horse stables in the spare bed room

Step 2: Define your sides.

Team: The Good Guys!

Power Ranger must save the world against evil yet again. They must have flying by a zoo when they got the call.


Team: The Bad Guys!

This picture alone proves time travel can happen. I didn't know that pirates, batman, and knights will band together as forces of evil.

Step 3: Line up and prepare to battle

The "puppet master" aka Ferdy

Step 4: Wait for the signal and ATTACK!

(With a little help from from Ferdy)

Batman says, " Help! We are loosing....good can't be allowed to win. Pirates bring more help!"
Pirate Captain says, "Allrightiee..."

Fight you Scallywags.....fight till your death!

Step 5: Expect Casualties and lots of them

Ferdy's "Siegfried and Roy" moment

Step 6: Declare a winner

How the mighty have fallen!

Good wins yet again!

Step 7: Put toys away, brush teeth, and go to bed....to fight another day!

Madrid - Day Seven - February 29, 2008

I slept in this morning after a late night of updating my blog. I bagged up all my dirty clothes and took them to a nice woman, Ana. She and her laundry staff wash, dry, and fold your clothes while you sight see. It was the best 7.50 Euros that I ever spent. I hate returning home with a bag that smell like dirty clothes and tons to wash the next day. If you have to lug your laundry up and down 140 steps you begin to think in this manner.

I walked to the Prado, a famous museum, which is well known for it collection of Francisco de Goya paintings. He is famous for Las Meninas. I waited in line for about thirty minutes to get my ticket and check my bag. At this point in my vacation anytime that I have to check my bag, I feel like i am missing a body part. I have small panic attacks and then remember that my bag is safe in the cloakroom. The Prado is HUGE! I followed the tour in Ricks Steve's guide book to help make it manageable. I can honestly say that while i appreciate all the effort and techniques that went into the paintings, I didn't like all of them. They were not in my preferred styles. Photos were forbidden, so i bought some nice post cards.

I left the Prado feeling hungry. I have a theory about hunger and the ability to find food. The hungrier you are the less likely you are to find food. I took the metro to Pl Espana and walked to the Temple de Debot. It is an intact original Egyptian temple- complete with fine carved reliefs from 200 b.c. It is set in a romantic park that is known for its views of Madrid.


After the Temple, I thought about going to the Cathedral de la Amudena, but my feet quickly vetoed that decision. This dog and I looked and felt about the same.

I took pictures at the Plaza Espana.

I went to collect my wonderfully clean, folded clothes. I grabbed some dinner and return to the hotel. I spent an exciting evening working with photoshop, burning DVD backups, and updating my blog. Next trip i am taking small portable drive. I am shooting on average 12 GB a day!!!!

Madrid - Day Six - February28, 2008

I began my day at Puerta del Sol with its statue of a bear pawing a berry bush and the madrono trees. Both of them are symbols of the city.

In front of the Governor's office, there is the Kilometer zero, considered the center of Spain's road network.

A stop at the famous Salon La Mallorqunia pastry shop with a tile view of 18th-century view of Puerta del Sol.

The street signs in this quarter had pictures so that illiterate medieval people could read them.

I followed the winding streets to the Plaza Mayor, a traffic free oasis from 17th-centry Spain. The building with the painted figures, Casa de la Panaderia, was formally the bakers guild.

After much consultation from the map book, I found the Basiclica Pontificia de San Miguel.


I tried to buy some sweets from the cloistered nuns. They conduct business using a lazy Susan. I was to late to buy some home-made cookies, but I will try another day. A plaza with city hall was located near the nuns.

I tried to visit Iglesia de San Nicolas, but it was not open for visits.

I then went to the Palacio Real, the Royal Palace. It could be categorized in that fine line between classical or elgant and Shoji Tabuchi's bathroom, which was modeled on Versailles. Pictures were not allowed, but I bought some postcards.

The Cathedral de la Almudena, but it was closed due to a demonstration. I took some pictures of the doors.

I went to the Thyssen-Bornemissa Musuem and enjoyed the great art. Pictures were not allowed. I went back to my hotel and had dinner.