Los regalos, pt. 2

I’m writing this with the help of my new best friend — my smartphone, given to me for Christmas by Martin & Mary.

Other booty:

• The English Constitution (Walter Bagehot);
• The Sense of an Ending (Julian Barnes);
• Essays in Quasi-Realism (Simon Blackburn);
• Hard Rain Falling (Don Carpenter);
• Hons and Rebels (Jessica Mitford);
• contact lens solution;
• socks;
• candy;
• money;
• probably, something I’ve forgotten.

So it was a good Christmas.

(I stopped typing with the smartphone long ago. I switched over to my computer.)

Ana & David have been visiting from Houston — and I hope this isn’t insulting or condescending or whatever, but they both seem calmer and more contented, having been married for several months.

Winners & losers

Well, we tried, but the contest was settled when we lost two important players. El Chivo Suárez collapsed a few seconds after the kickoff. He received treatment and hobbled up and down the field but had to be subbed out before halftime. Worse, between the minutes 5 and 10, two yellow cards accrued to Álex Bolaños. … Emelec pressed hard; got a first-half goal; waited for us to tire out; and, near the end, put in two more goals. So it was easy for them, but anyway they were the better team.

The President of Ecuador, Rafael Correa, celebrated with Emelec at the Parrilla del Ñato.

Antonio Noboa, our team president, tweeted out some venom against Bolaños.

I viewed the match at Sabby’s house. The male Sabby loyally sat next to me and played a bridge-building game on his new smartphone. Sadly, his bridges kept on collapsing, and his ponies kept on falling into the gorge.

It’s dire

— not because of last night’s result (1 to 1) but because we were outplayed. During the first half we barely could string three or four passes together. Emelec were ballet-dancing around us. Here is some apt analysis. This link is for a video of the entire game. Emelec’s goal arrives around this time, easy-peasy, and this is our gritty equalizer.

As I said, Leg Two will be played on Sunday. The order of the tiebreakers: (1) total goals; (2) away goals; (3) penales.

I’m old enough now, I don’t feel anxious so much as resigned.

I’ll miss Stephen. We won’t see the second game together: today he went to Nicaragua with his girlfriend.

December fragments

My little cousin posted this:

“Just to give an idea of how many books can fit
in my small bedroom. This is all thanks to my
dad who basically gives me a new book every day.”
‪#‎itsanerdelthing‬ ‪#‎youshouldseehisbookcollection‬

I feel so proud.

Announcement !!!

What: Leg One of the Ecuadorian soccer championship.

Where: Estadio Monumental Banco Pichincha, Guayaquil.

When: Wednesday (tomorrow) at 8:00pm, U.S. Eastern Time.

The cheapest tickets cost $25. This is the priciest B.S.C. game I’ve heard of. On behalf of the chusma, I’m indignant.

I don’t have a TV link to offer you. Please google “Barcelona Emelec en vivo,” and then cheer for the yellow team.

Leg Two will be played on Sunday.

Today after work I walked home in a pleasant, light rain. The park that I walked through could’ve been muddier; the alley could’ve had more puddles — I wouldn’t have minded. On the street, two different motorists flipped me off, which I enjoyed. (This is how it feels to recover from depression.) When I got home, I asked Mary to light a fire for me, and I dried my socks; she told me it would’ve been easier if I’d put them in the drying machine. Here is a nice video of some people making out.

Los regalos

December is just beginning, and already we’ve erected our Charlie Brown Christmas tree and put gifts under it. Why are we so “Christmassy” this year?

Because of David. Some weeks ago, he sent us his wishlist. (Life in Houston must be very dull.) Since then, we’ve all been posting wishlists. I’m not sure how effective those lists will turn out to be. For example, I can’t buy what Mary asked for; I mean, not without withholding the Gift of Rent from her.

She, on the other hand, has been buying quite a lot of gifts. Useful gifts. Salutary gifts.

She bought a storybook for her little niece.

She’s going to buy gum surgery for her husband. (These holidays, poor Martin will subsist on liquids.)

To me, she said: “I won’t tell you what I bought you — it isn’t what you asked for, but it’s for your benefit.”

Edoarda & Stephen bought a bookcase for me, which is nice, because now I’ll be able to bring more of my books up from the basement. Stephen gave some old shoelaces to Bianca.