hello, my name is emily adams, do you have a cindy sherman? this is what i have been repeating all week long by phone from museum to collection to gallery. i am trying to locate shermans on loan to fill individual exhibition in a venue that is dauntingly large. what else to report? well...

tuesday i went with my colleagues to a reception at the home of the american ambassador in madrid. an elderly guy caught on to our tails and before we could shake him off he introduced us to the infamous baroness thyseen, that i can now identify by her distinctive face tacked in every direction. four of us gals recapped the evening with a bottle of wine.

wednesday there was a general strike in madrid, first time in i think eight years. there was much talk all week about would like to support the cause and a few days before we received an internal email remind us that it is our legal right to go on strike, however the day´s salary would be deducted from our paychecks. on the very day i think everyone went to work; there is an overall inconformity with the strike, with the reform and zapatero alike.

thursday afterwork i went to a cuban restaurant with a co-worker. it is a small little family-run nitch owned by dapper old-school white cubans. what i like most are the daiquiris, which they serve in hansome martini glasses.

friday my friend invited me for lunch at her house, which is the easiest way to be with a six month old. she made meatloaf that was moist and satisfying. then a leisurely walk with a fill of baby news.

saturday I spent half they day enjoying the clean house, thanks to joel. in the afternoon i went to an exhibition, wandered over to the Mexican food shop for chilies, then we had an ice cream in front of the placio real to watch the sunset.

today the fall light is so golden and the air so crisp, i feel like i could eat a pumpkin.