Today is November 1.

Today is November 1. And that means several things.  

1.     The Day of the Great Reseca. (Being in such a gnarley hangover fog myself, it seems inconceivable that anything else on the list would go first). Yesterday was the great holiday of Halloween which Americans proudly celebrate in whichever country they are currently in. Spain has absolutely no ties to this holiday except what’s been seen in American movies. But there is a weird phenomenon with the younger generations to adopt American culture, so there you have it. Halloween exists here too. Its kind of like adopting a 16 year old kid from  that you dont know much about or speak its language.

I had a great costume I made in an hour and hit my dancing fun-self high around 1:00 a.m. This is how I disguised myself and confused the zombies from stealing my soul:

We actually ran into another Eduardo-manos-tijeras and everyone was like take a picture with Camille! Maybe the girl was really playing her part but she definitely acted like she was a 13 year old getting coerced into taking her picture with a creepy mall Santa. (I excitedly suggested we pretend to cut each others hair and she curtly declined.) Also while we were getting our picture taken my friend Eric yelled “Camille’s costume was cheaper!” I immediately felt proud that I was a crafty little Sally and didn’t buy one thing for my costume. (I borrowed the cardboard and tinfoil from the bar next to my house). Score! I’m amazing! But this probably was my friend building me up so that when I saw the picture I wouldn’t feel so bad standing next to an Eduardo that could have cut my tinfoil hands off in one quick snip.

Today is also a scary hair day. Since I spent 20 minutes creating a rat nest in my hair last night and then making it truly flammable with hairspray, it is beyond salvation now. If I was a shih tsu at my dad’s office, he would call my hair a matted mess and turn on the clippers. But Im not a shihtsu and I need my hair. It keeps me girl.

2.     (No, I did not forget we were counting something. Although that is a nice indicator of classic blog-digression). November 1 also marks “Day after Halloween Day” “All Saints Day”. It is a national holiday for Spain and everyone is off school / work. Spain is very Catholic. (Meaning they don’t like to work very much). When I told my mom we don’t have school Tuesday. She said immediately, “All Saints Day!” I could hear the pride in her voice.

3.     November 1 is also my half birthday. Why does no one celebrate this? (Except the Spanish obviously). I remind you people every year. It’s like with the LED Hula Hoop. How many hints does it take to get to the center of the tootsie pop??

4.     This half birthday means I’m halfway to 49. Expect to receive an email from me reminding you about a certain grand party that I will want but act like I don’t want in 24 and a half years.

5.     And….. today I quit smoking. (Shock! Camille smokes!) But not anymore beaches!

I smoked maybe a pack a week which is an infinitely small amount compared to the sturdy Spaniard smoking regimen, but probably more than the trendy Social Smoker. I’d like to say I’ve never been a real “Smoker”. Not that anyone likes to admit to the foul nomenclature. It just sounds so concrete. Like I’m a girl. I’m white. I’m a smoker. And what is the real amount that makes these people real smokers? (Remember- I’m not one.)

Side note: I picked up on connotations from a very young age and I knew by age 5 that “Smokers” were bad, smelly sinners. (I was also in MathCounts, an after school math class for middle school kids to compete and math wiz it out. I had no reason to be there since I am the worlds worst at math. But Jim Risch really wanted me there. He also ran the program.)

So needless to say, November 1 marks my quitting day. Many reasons to quit but really only two are important to me. One, I’m pretty sure my teeth have become a shade of yellow. Its gross. I can’t live with kitchen color teeth being, said pale white girl. No contrast is scary. The second reason is I’m quitting is to keep my body in check. So that Camille’s in control. In the past, I received a lot of harsh (unsolicited) criticism from some people (Patrick) and I always told these people (Patrick), “I don’t have an addictive personality, so I can quit in a drop of a hat.” That never stopped those smoking abolitionists (Patrick) from tearing my cigarettes in half or flushing them down the toilet. But then I started wondering, what does that even mean? I don’t have an addictive personality. That’s like the people who say “This slimfast bar is SO filling.” (Liars!).

But here we start. No smoking! I will be sure to keep you updated of my success. And if I don’t then that probably means I’ve fallen off the wagon. Check facebook for pictures of white sparkly teeth and then you’ll know.

Well that is all. Today is a day of recuperation, birthdays, Saints celebration and some endings and new beginnings. Tomorrow I break down November 2.

P.S. Have I ever mentioned how smart my brother Patrick is? He can tell you anything about anything!

  

-Cococamille