Late November 4th / early 5th November
I really did almost cry when I landed in London; how weak is that? I was just so happy. Ew. Everyone go throw up. I will now. Ok back.
Unfortunately despite my thinking London was home, I realized I really didn’t live here when a couple in the airport asked me how to get tickets for the tube. I had my two year old oyster card in my pocket and decided to see if that still worked, only to find out that not only was it functioning but it had 7 pounds on it! yay! However, when the couple in the airport tried to get me to help them I could not. They wanted a three day pass or something like that and the machines didn’t seem to offer it. I hope it was the machine’s fault and not mine.
Another man – who happened to be the man sitting in my row on the plane – came down with his daughter and was having an equivalent amount of trouble. I swiped my oyster card and walked through the gates, while my new friend pushed my luggage through to me. There was a train waiting to depart but I refused to leave my comrades behind. They couldn’t get the machine to take their tickets (it was too late at night I think – 11pm due to our flight being delayed), and try as I may I could not assist. Finally a tube worker shows up out of nowhere and tells them that they have to go through this other gate as he just glances at their ticket. They were very pleased that I waited for them for some reason “you’re too kind,” one of them says. (Those kind of phrases always make me a little nervous…too kind? Why not ‘you’re just kind enough’? or ‘your kindness has been wholly sufficient in this situation’. it makes me second guess myself to be called ‘too kind’.
We sit in the nearly empty car, joined only by another couple who sat across from me, and participate in some lovely small talk. It is my airport friends’ first time to London so they ask some things to do, if I like being there, etc etc. All was fine and dandy until they started asking me about their hotel or if I knew the best way to get to Buckingham Palace and I for the life of me could not remember. Nor did I have my awesome laminated London map. Just a guide book. With junk maps. I failed again. Sigh.
We ride for a while before the it starts to fill up in central London. I am sitting awkwardly straddling a huge suitcase with my legs so it doesn’t roll and holding onto my huge backpack that is on the seat next to me. At one stop a guy on the platform looks in at me and waves enthusiastically through the window. I kind of look around in a who else can you possibly be waving at kind of way before I halfheartedly and very confusedly raise my hand a bit to acknowledge this.
My other airport friends from across the way (who are the only ones left from the heathrow troupe) laugh as they watch this kid chat me up for the remainder of his ride. He sat down two seats over and immediately began talking to me about I don’t even know what. He’s sloshed. Which of course explains the rest of his behavior. He asks me what I think of his friend James, who went and stood some 7 feet away at least, and then proceeded to try to get me to admit he was a ‘sexy beast’ ‘isn’t james there a sexy beast?’ “hmm. Well I don’t know james,’ I say ‘ you seem interested though, perhaps you should talk to him? Want me to get him to come over here?’ He of course states ‘oh I know him. I’ve had him many times.’ Don’t you just love drunk british men? Because I do. He gives up on his james mission for a while and then all of the sudden lights up again and asks about the election.. “it’s got to be obama right? it’s got to be” Did I vote, he asks? Yes I say, absentee ballot before I came over. Then he goes on to say “it will also start a fun game of when will he get assassinated.” Then he apologizes a bit and says he’s sorry its an awful thing to say but it’s true. This is a common thing I found. I had several Brits say to me that they were both extremely excited about obama and that they think he is going to get assassinated within a matter of time.
I ask him why Bush hasn’t been assassinated then, clearly enough people hate him. He then explains ( I keep saying he because I don’t actually remember my new friend’s name. he may not have told me. Though we did shake hands all formal like)… he then explains that its because rednecks love bush. And that’s who will do it. the rednecks. The US is not gonna let crazy fundamentalist terrorists get to your pres, he says, but the rednecks will do it. He’s got a point, unfortunately.
Towards the end of this subject his friend james the sexy beast comes over and apologizes profusely for his drunk friend. To which my new friend says ‘ nah she loves it’ ‘youre alright aren’t you?’ I’m sorry’ then apologizes more. And I just laughed and said no no its great, and the people across the way can hardly contain themselves.
I should point out that NO ONE else on the tube was talking. Granted it is fairly loud as the old trains squeak and creak as they rush along the tracks, but still, there was no other conversation. Most people do not talk on the tube. And you particularly do not speak to strangers. Unless that stranger is me. Lots of London rules seem to be broken for me. But anyway, that adds a little to the visual of this true spectacle that was occurring.
Then my new friend continues with the politics saying things like “obama. Yeah, so abortions, they’re cool? Making love to everyone ? ‘ and as I said um and began to formulate how to respond to this and the word ‘cool’ being used with ‘abortion’ , not something I had heard before. But before I could respond in any way he switched over to asking if I could do him a favor.
I did not say yes. Because by now I knew my friend well. And I think he has pretty lofty ideas for favors. So I say, well, it depends on what you need because I don’t want to make promises I cant keep. He made a sad face. And then said ‘call me friend james over here and tell him you want to make love to him’ . ha! I knew it kid. No way. So I tell him no, and after much discussing and puppy dog face making, he still did not win. Too bad. Maybe if everyone on the tube wasn’t watching us like their favorite episode of Footballers Wives… but no.
His stop comes, he wished me luck with finding my friend and her place ( I explained the no address no phone situation to which he replied ‘ ooh that is scary’ nice. Thanks.) and said nice meeting me and then walked off. It had not even truly arrived in London and I already let a possible british husband slip away. Sigh. He’s probably an alcoholic. But he was a charming alcoholic. If only I had propositioned his friend…
Well anyway, Chalk Farm comes up, I get off the train and go to the stairs where a concerned woman asks if I need help carrying my suitcase up. No thanks I say, and I continue to insist that I am fine (of course I was not really fine, but for some reason I cant accept help). She looks skeptical but in order to prove myself I just happily trudge up the stairs trying to look like I do this every day. I reach the top of these stairs only to see a sign leading to ‘emergency stairs’ , where everyone seems to walking. I look around quickly. Surely there is another way. And there it is. An elevator! But what’s this. Two really sketchy guys are loitering right outside it..and I just saw one girl almost do an about face in order to avoid these guys and take the stairs. Now normally I am ok with sketchy, but I had so much luggage that I really wouldn’t be able to fight anyone off. Ugh. Stairs it is. So I haul up I don’t even know how many spiral stairs, and pause at the landing thinking my heart is going to explode and wondering if I will ever make it to jenna’s alive, when I look up and see a very nervous looking jenna butler Esposito who looks down and then gets very excited. I THOUGHT YOU DIED , she yells. Yeah. I am the worst friend ever. I am an hour late and had no way to contact her. But there she was. What a friend. Despite the fact that the immigration man yelled at me for not having the full address of where I was staying and asked what I was going to do if she didn’t meet me at the station, she was there.
We get to her apartment down the street at about 1215 am. We check online to see if we have a new president (nope), as we proceed to drink a considerable amount of strongbow. I understand Jenna’s complaints about that drink now. It is too sugary. It will be a while before I choose strongbow again. But anyway. We go to bed around 3 in a good state of mind, good enough for me to ignore the fact that there was ivy growing from her skylight (think of the bug possibilities) and that she told me there were loads of spiders in her room. ahem. really?
But hey. I am in London. and nothing can ever beat the happiness that comes with that. Not even spiders and hang overs and gas leaks.
What?
28.11.08
Flight and Arrival : complete version
Nov 4th 2008
My plan was to begin by saying that i am sitting here in the aisle seat of my continental jet listening to music by john coltrane. however, since my music player doesnt seem to be working, i am instead sitting here listening to the movie Henry Poole is Here, making sure to keep my seatbelt on in case things get nuts. But lets start at the beginning.
I woke at 5am from one of those sleeps where it seems like you just closed your eyes and suddenly your alarm is going off. My dad kindly drove me to the Newark airport. Airports are interesing i decided. I found myself walking past random groups of people wondering, what business do you and your son have in aruba, sir? or I didnt know St maartens was spelled that way, why are there only two peopl sitting by that gate do they know each other? will they go the whole journey wihtout talking? Airports are prime people watching locations.
My luck can't seem to decide if it wants to comply with London rules or general real life rules. I got in, checked my bag, no trouble with the backpack as a carry on (thanks again jess)! The lady at checkin eyes me suspiciously and asks how old i am. 22, i reply. And then she just said something about me being a pretty girl. several questions arose here. why is this relevant to my age? why did you give me that look?`what are you thinking i legit slept 4 hours? The odd occurrences begin...
I can never seem to get through without some sort of trouble which eventually makes a scene. First I asked the man checking the passports if I needed to put all my liquids in a plastic bag, to which he replied “eh. .. well.. yeah. I mean you’re supposed to ..” and kind of shrugged along with some shifty eyes. Huh, I think. So I do that, because he was oh so forceful and convincing. Well, mainly because I didn’t want someone else to stop me. I put my shoes and jacket in the gray box so they can check if I am packing heat in my huge coat. I go to walk through the metal detector and the man on the other side tells me to take off my vest. Then my belt… a bit forward I thought. But my pants WILL fall down. This could get awkward. But I make it through, only to have a man whisk me and my bag away to a special kiosk where he pulls out a water bottle I had ( How could I have been so careless??!) . Luckily he just throws it away and lets me on my way.
Walking towards my gate, I stop for some yoghurt (I shall spell things british-ly from now on just to annoy you) at au bon pain (exactly what I wanted to eat and where I wanted it to be from: one point to my London luck). Then once I found my gate, I decide to go to the bathroom so as to avoid the creepy claustrophobic bathrooms as much as possible. I walk out and they call my row to board, so I just walk up to the desk and walk on with no waiting ( +1 pt to London).
I sit in my aisle seat on the plane, next to a British woman whose husband is sitting two rows up. She mentions to me and the man in the window seat about how they are separated and it is unfortunate how airlines do this and blah blah blah. Then an American lady a few rows up just asked some guy to move so that she could sit in the same row as her kids. “That’s how you do it,” says British lady, “English people aren’t brave.” Window man and I just kind of chuckle awkwardly, probably both thinking, God I hope she doesn’t ask us to switch. I felt so torn. I will happily switch seats with someone, but this would be going from an aisle seat to a middle seat. Who knew who would fill the surrounding seats? Smelly people? Small whiny kick your seat children? I just didn’t know. Not to mention the lack of leg room. And the fact that if I needed to go to the bathroom I would probably have to wake someone up. No. No I refused. I try to be a nice person, but I just will not give up my aisle seat. I felt guilty and defeated and selfish. (1 pt for American luck)
But what’s this! It seems the doors are closed and no one has sat next to this person’s husband! So my neighbor got to relocate, and I was guilt free and left with an empty seat next to me ( +1 to London). I also found out the entertainment was much better than I thought. I looked online and it said I would get my choice of Space Chimps or Get Smart and that is all. Well luckily I got my own little tv with many tv, movie and music options. (1 to lon) Thus far, continental is ok (though I smell a curry meal (-1) coming my way) but I feel like I am cheating on Richard Branson. I miss Virgin Atlantic. So I watch the movie Bullit while I eat my curry – I got the veggie meal even though I entered this preference online waaay too late ( +1 to lon). Bullit was my first Steve McQueen movie. He’s quite good. And Daniel Craig reminds me a lot of a poor man’s Steve McQueen.
Unfortunately the kid in front of me reclined his seat all the way for a good chunk of the flight, though he asked me, so we will say that breaks even. However, whoever was behind me decided it would be fun to kick or punch my seat on and off for several hours (-2). BUT a lovely British man moved his smaller bag from the overhead compartment so I could fit my big backpack on it (+1). Then when I was hoping for a snack, I got not only a snack but a second full meal! With another lovely vegan cookie.
Now let’s just hope I can get to Jenna’s. Seeing as I can’t find the piece of paper with her address and phone number written on it. And the phone I have with me needs to be topped up so it won’t work. All I know is I have to get to Chalk Farm tube station and hope that she will be there waiting. Boy isn’t life exciting?
My plan was to begin by saying that i am sitting here in the aisle seat of my continental jet listening to music by john coltrane. however, since my music player doesnt seem to be working, i am instead sitting here listening to the movie Henry Poole is Here, making sure to keep my seatbelt on in case things get nuts. But lets start at the beginning.
I woke at 5am from one of those sleeps where it seems like you just closed your eyes and suddenly your alarm is going off. My dad kindly drove me to the Newark airport. Airports are interesing i decided. I found myself walking past random groups of people wondering, what business do you and your son have in aruba, sir? or I didnt know St maartens was spelled that way, why are there only two peopl sitting by that gate do they know each other? will they go the whole journey wihtout talking? Airports are prime people watching locations.
My luck can't seem to decide if it wants to comply with London rules or general real life rules. I got in, checked my bag, no trouble with the backpack as a carry on (thanks again jess)! The lady at checkin eyes me suspiciously and asks how old i am. 22, i reply. And then she just said something about me being a pretty girl. several questions arose here. why is this relevant to my age? why did you give me that look?`what are you thinking i legit slept 4 hours? The odd occurrences begin...
I can never seem to get through without some sort of trouble which eventually makes a scene. First I asked the man checking the passports if I needed to put all my liquids in a plastic bag, to which he replied “eh. .. well.. yeah. I mean you’re supposed to ..” and kind of shrugged along with some shifty eyes. Huh, I think. So I do that, because he was oh so forceful and convincing. Well, mainly because I didn’t want someone else to stop me. I put my shoes and jacket in the gray box so they can check if I am packing heat in my huge coat. I go to walk through the metal detector and the man on the other side tells me to take off my vest. Then my belt… a bit forward I thought. But my pants WILL fall down. This could get awkward. But I make it through, only to have a man whisk me and my bag away to a special kiosk where he pulls out a water bottle I had ( How could I have been so careless??!) . Luckily he just throws it away and lets me on my way.
Walking towards my gate, I stop for some yoghurt (I shall spell things british-ly from now on just to annoy you) at au bon pain (exactly what I wanted to eat and where I wanted it to be from: one point to my London luck). Then once I found my gate, I decide to go to the bathroom so as to avoid the creepy claustrophobic bathrooms as much as possible. I walk out and they call my row to board, so I just walk up to the desk and walk on with no waiting ( +1 pt to London).
I sit in my aisle seat on the plane, next to a British woman whose husband is sitting two rows up. She mentions to me and the man in the window seat about how they are separated and it is unfortunate how airlines do this and blah blah blah. Then an American lady a few rows up just asked some guy to move so that she could sit in the same row as her kids. “That’s how you do it,” says British lady, “English people aren’t brave.” Window man and I just kind of chuckle awkwardly, probably both thinking, God I hope she doesn’t ask us to switch. I felt so torn. I will happily switch seats with someone, but this would be going from an aisle seat to a middle seat. Who knew who would fill the surrounding seats? Smelly people? Small whiny kick your seat children? I just didn’t know. Not to mention the lack of leg room. And the fact that if I needed to go to the bathroom I would probably have to wake someone up. No. No I refused. I try to be a nice person, but I just will not give up my aisle seat. I felt guilty and defeated and selfish. (1 pt for American luck)
But what’s this! It seems the doors are closed and no one has sat next to this person’s husband! So my neighbor got to relocate, and I was guilt free and left with an empty seat next to me ( +1 to London). I also found out the entertainment was much better than I thought. I looked online and it said I would get my choice of Space Chimps or Get Smart and that is all. Well luckily I got my own little tv with many tv, movie and music options. (1 to lon) Thus far, continental is ok (though I smell a curry meal (-1) coming my way) but I feel like I am cheating on Richard Branson. I miss Virgin Atlantic. So I watch the movie Bullit while I eat my curry – I got the veggie meal even though I entered this preference online waaay too late ( +1 to lon). Bullit was my first Steve McQueen movie. He’s quite good. And Daniel Craig reminds me a lot of a poor man’s Steve McQueen.
Unfortunately the kid in front of me reclined his seat all the way for a good chunk of the flight, though he asked me, so we will say that breaks even. However, whoever was behind me decided it would be fun to kick or punch my seat on and off for several hours (-2). BUT a lovely British man moved his smaller bag from the overhead compartment so I could fit my big backpack on it (+1). Then when I was hoping for a snack, I got not only a snack but a second full meal! With another lovely vegan cookie.
Now let’s just hope I can get to Jenna’s. Seeing as I can’t find the piece of paper with her address and phone number written on it. And the phone I have with me needs to be topped up so it won’t work. All I know is I have to get to Chalk Farm tube station and hope that she will be there waiting. Boy isn’t life exciting?
25.11.08
i am the worst
I am back in the US, safely, somewhat sickly, and sadly. It seems i am to do everything in preparation for Thanksgiving so there is not much time these days to upload photos or write. BUT i do plan on doing this at some point. I kept a journal for maybe half of my journey? so i will transcribe those, and then write about the rest of my adventures, mainly so i can remember them. Anyway, check back after Thanksgiving when i will hopefully have time to regale you with tales of my wonderful, fantastic, whirlwind trip.
10.11.08
Flight and arrival
So it seems my time just rolls over in this internet cafe. though i have to leave in 15 to 20 minutes so i can find my train. and find a WC. Here is what i wrote on the plane and such:
My plan was to begin by saying that i am sitting here in the aisle seat of my continental jet listening to music by john coltrane. however, since my music player doesnt seem to be working, i am instead sitting here listening to the movie Henry Poole is Here, making sure to keep my seatbelt on in case things get nuts. But lets start at the beginning.
I woke at 5am from one of those sleeps where it seems like you just closed your eyes and suddenly your alarm is going off. My dad kindly drove me to the Newark airport. Airports are interesing i decided. I found myself walking past random groups of people wondering, what business do you and your son have in aruba, sir? or I didnt know St maartens was spelled that way, why are there only two peopl sitting by that gate do they know each other? will they go the whole journey wihtout talking? Airports are prime people watching locations.
My luck can't seem to decide if it wants to comply with London rules or general real life rules. I got in, checked my bag, no trouble with the backpack as a carry on (thanks again jess)! The lady at checkin eyes me suspiciously and asks how old i am. 22, i reply. And then she just said something about me being a pretty girl. several questions arose here. why is this relevant to my age? why did you give me that look?`what are you thinking i legit slept 4 hours? The odd occurrences begin...
O dear. i have to go. this is certainly not the end of the first entry but i reall must go to the train station. hopefull i can continue this tonight in munich .sorry.
My plan was to begin by saying that i am sitting here in the aisle seat of my continental jet listening to music by john coltrane. however, since my music player doesnt seem to be working, i am instead sitting here listening to the movie Henry Poole is Here, making sure to keep my seatbelt on in case things get nuts. But lets start at the beginning.
I woke at 5am from one of those sleeps where it seems like you just closed your eyes and suddenly your alarm is going off. My dad kindly drove me to the Newark airport. Airports are interesing i decided. I found myself walking past random groups of people wondering, what business do you and your son have in aruba, sir? or I didnt know St maartens was spelled that way, why are there only two peopl sitting by that gate do they know each other? will they go the whole journey wihtout talking? Airports are prime people watching locations.
My luck can't seem to decide if it wants to comply with London rules or general real life rules. I got in, checked my bag, no trouble with the backpack as a carry on (thanks again jess)! The lady at checkin eyes me suspiciously and asks how old i am. 22, i reply. And then she just said something about me being a pretty girl. several questions arose here. why is this relevant to my age? why did you give me that look?`what are you thinking i legit slept 4 hours? The odd occurrences begin...
O dear. i have to go. this is certainly not the end of the first entry but i reall must go to the train station. hopefull i can continue this tonight in munich .sorry.
europe omg
Ok friends, so here is the deal. I have not been able to keep up with posting blogs (clearly), and i have not been able to keep up with my journal. BUT i am going to catch up today on mz train to munich hopefully. we shall see how it goes.
thus far, mz internet access has been limited. i commandeered mz friends laptops quite bit in london but i would spend like two hours on it and the whole ordeal would be just to check mz email and book hostels. or look up trains. or planes. or buses. or taxis. or crayz things like that.
also the z and y are changed on austrain kezboards. so just get used to it. i have ten minutes left at this internet cafe and i am trzing to not waste time correcting these things. also the apostrophe is this -- ä . i maz go another hour since i have time to kill and my train to munich doesnt leave for another hour and twenty.
i am legitmatelz a 3 minute walk from this train station. i stayed in a place called ä pension adlerhof ä last night. it is in turkish neighborhood of salzburg. and right by two erotica shops YES. sketchy. but the hotel itself was fine. it should be. it cost a lot, as i was convinced to stay in a single room. enough of this luxury, though i must saz it was worth it. i finallz got two almost full nights of sleep as before that i was sleeping like a spy might. catching anything from fifteen minutes to three hours whenever i could. ) i would like to point out that i woke up on hte plane to salzburg to ensure i got mz junk airline food. nothing against british airways, i like you guys. but most airline food is junk.
right. so pension adlerhof. i need to look it up on the website again but i am pretty sure it was an original pre war building where people planned things and had meetings. this explains whhy my room smelled a little like old people, smoke, and nazis.
a lot of stuff in salzburg had to be rebuilt because of bombings. stupid wars. this is why i am a crazy hippie and not terriblz religious - i also have been seeing lots of churches that have been whitewashed and junk because of iconclasm. stupid zealots. just leave buildings alone. and people. man, everyone needs to just chill out.
but yeah. i am not sure how this internet cafe junk works, though i feel like i really need to wash my hands (dirty keyboard) and take a shower and wash my clothes (poeple smoke EVERYWHERE. my god. it makes me want to throw up. donät smoke). but i dont know if the comp just kicks me off after an hour or if i go up and pay more. i f i just pay more later, i may transfer a journal entry onto here. as that is my plan for the remainder of the trip. i plan on keeping this journal, and transferring entries when i can. if they dont get done by the time i get home then i will just do it when i get home.
omg 1 minute left, bye
thus far, mz internet access has been limited. i commandeered mz friends laptops quite bit in london but i would spend like two hours on it and the whole ordeal would be just to check mz email and book hostels. or look up trains. or planes. or buses. or taxis. or crayz things like that.
also the z and y are changed on austrain kezboards. so just get used to it. i have ten minutes left at this internet cafe and i am trzing to not waste time correcting these things. also the apostrophe is this -- ä . i maz go another hour since i have time to kill and my train to munich doesnt leave for another hour and twenty.
i am legitmatelz a 3 minute walk from this train station. i stayed in a place called ä pension adlerhof ä last night. it is in turkish neighborhood of salzburg. and right by two erotica shops YES. sketchy. but the hotel itself was fine. it should be. it cost a lot, as i was convinced to stay in a single room. enough of this luxury, though i must saz it was worth it. i finallz got two almost full nights of sleep as before that i was sleeping like a spy might. catching anything from fifteen minutes to three hours whenever i could. ) i would like to point out that i woke up on hte plane to salzburg to ensure i got mz junk airline food. nothing against british airways, i like you guys. but most airline food is junk.
right. so pension adlerhof. i need to look it up on the website again but i am pretty sure it was an original pre war building where people planned things and had meetings. this explains whhy my room smelled a little like old people, smoke, and nazis.
a lot of stuff in salzburg had to be rebuilt because of bombings. stupid wars. this is why i am a crazy hippie and not terriblz religious - i also have been seeing lots of churches that have been whitewashed and junk because of iconclasm. stupid zealots. just leave buildings alone. and people. man, everyone needs to just chill out.
but yeah. i am not sure how this internet cafe junk works, though i feel like i really need to wash my hands (dirty keyboard) and take a shower and wash my clothes (poeple smoke EVERYWHERE. my god. it makes me want to throw up. donät smoke). but i dont know if the comp just kicks me off after an hour or if i go up and pay more. i f i just pay more later, i may transfer a journal entry onto here. as that is my plan for the remainder of the trip. i plan on keeping this journal, and transferring entries when i can. if they dont get done by the time i get home then i will just do it when i get home.
omg 1 minute left, bye
3.11.08
FULL itinerary
i have decided to include a full itinerary because some have asked for it. So in case you are particularly interested, or, for some of you, if you are trying to meet up at some point in europe, here it is:
T. Nov 4th- arrive in london at night, find jenna esposito and reunite
W. 5th- london (and guy fawkes day fun)
Th 6th- London
Fr 7th- trip to Cambridge , but still staying in London
Sa 8th- early morning flight to Salzburg, Austria
Sun 9th- Salzburg
M 10th- Train from Sazlburg to Munich
T 11th- bus tour of Ludwig's castles in Bavaria, then Munich for the night
W- 12th- big train ride from Munich to Prague
Th 13th- Prague
Fr 14th- Prague, train to Vienna late afternoon
Sa 15th- trip to Bratislava from Vienna
Su 16th- Vienna
M17h- Vienna
T 18th- Vienna , flight back to london in afternoon
W 19th - Sun 23rd London, or somewhere in England. maybe two concerts.
fly home sun the 23rd around noon. :(
ok , so for those of you in europe, if you want to jump in on anything - particularly the middle bit, let me know. hope you can work it out.
now back to packing. yuck.
p.s. a spider was in my car today. and i did so well keeping calm. i pulled over when it started crawling around my sunroof, and was scuttling towards the area right above my head. i was able to jump out of the car on a side road and reposition myself with a tissue. it tried to hide, but it was futile, this is why you stay outside spiders. i will not kill you if you are outside. but the minute you invade my space and threaten jumping onto my face while i am driving, well, i am afraid you have to go.
T. Nov 4th- arrive in london at night, find jenna esposito and reunite
W. 5th- london (and guy fawkes day fun)
Th 6th- London
Fr 7th- trip to Cambridge , but still staying in London
Sa 8th- early morning flight to Salzburg, Austria
Sun 9th- Salzburg
M 10th- Train from Sazlburg to Munich
T 11th- bus tour of Ludwig's castles in Bavaria, then Munich for the night
W- 12th- big train ride from Munich to Prague
Th 13th- Prague
Fr 14th- Prague, train to Vienna late afternoon
Sa 15th- trip to Bratislava from Vienna
Su 16th- Vienna
M17h- Vienna
T 18th- Vienna , flight back to london in afternoon
W 19th - Sun 23rd London, or somewhere in England. maybe two concerts.
fly home sun the 23rd around noon. :(
ok , so for those of you in europe, if you want to jump in on anything - particularly the middle bit, let me know. hope you can work it out.
now back to packing. yuck.
p.s. a spider was in my car today. and i did so well keeping calm. i pulled over when it started crawling around my sunroof, and was scuttling towards the area right above my head. i was able to jump out of the car on a side road and reposition myself with a tissue. it tried to hide, but it was futile, this is why you stay outside spiders. i will not kill you if you are outside. but the minute you invade my space and threaten jumping onto my face while i am driving, well, i am afraid you have to go.
2.11.08
what's new pussycat?
As i write a list of what to bring with me to Europe, i flip through the channels on my television. It lands on NJN, the new jersey pbs -type channel, which often plays old concerts and occasionally some old britcoms. Well, lo and behold, on it tonight i notice a man in a red shirt and tight black pants singing Great Balls of Fire. No, not Jerry Lee Lewis (though he is alive and kicking as witnessed at the D.C. Fourth of July concert this summer).
It was none other than Tom Jones.
I think this is a good sign for my trip, as my time in London was a popular time for the Tom Jones impression; which, as you probably know is somewhere on video floating around the trash bin of the BBC. (i did a tom jones impersonation along with the turkey impression and other things on video when i auditioned for a game show in england 2 years ago. yup. i am among the most embarrassing ,awkward, and ridiculous people you know).
Man, that Tom Jones had something. I can see where all the crazy panty throwing ladies are coming from. Sadly, he has since had so much plastic surgery that his doctor truly told him that if he continued like this, his face would literally fall off.
Whoopsiedaisy Tommy. At least we will always have "Thunderball."
I was getting anxious for this trip, as i have a tendency to get nervous before things actually happen, but Tom has put my mind at ease. At least for now.
I have to pack everything tomorrow. I leave on Tuesday morning, at a time when i would normally just be hitting my REM sleep. I don't have all my transportation booked. I don't have hostels booked. I don't have any clue what i want to see anywhere, but you know what, it's europe. no matter what happens everything will be great. And i can guarantee i will have some interesting stories for you; life hasn't let me down yet. Wierd situations gravitate to me.
Which brings me to my next point:
I hope to be regularly posting blogs about my 2 and a half week jaunt in Europe. I considered putting it up with my original blog from London, but i decided to do it here. So check in every now and then if you want to read stories about me trying to speak german to old people, me falling down stairs in a castle, or me searching for a vegetarian meal in the home of sausage. The possibilities are endless my friends, but please, do read, and more importantly, write comments so i am inspired to continue documenting my journey.
Let's be honest, this plan is nearly entirely selfish, it just forces me to keep a journal of my fun, which i would otherwise not do. So comment on things, i am pretty sure you can use it as a tax write off.
Here is my general itinerary, so you can have a little teaser:
London for a few days, Salzburg, Munich, bus tour of crazy king ludwig's castles in bavaria, a 6 hour train ride to prague , prague coincidentally, bratislava, vienna, london, and home.
the end is subject to change. as in it may not end.
It was none other than Tom Jones.
I think this is a good sign for my trip, as my time in London was a popular time for the Tom Jones impression; which, as you probably know is somewhere on video floating around the trash bin of the BBC. (i did a tom jones impersonation along with the turkey impression and other things on video when i auditioned for a game show in england 2 years ago. yup. i am among the most embarrassing ,awkward, and ridiculous people you know).
Man, that Tom Jones had something. I can see where all the crazy panty throwing ladies are coming from. Sadly, he has since had so much plastic surgery that his doctor truly told him that if he continued like this, his face would literally fall off.
Whoopsiedaisy Tommy. At least we will always have "Thunderball."
I was getting anxious for this trip, as i have a tendency to get nervous before things actually happen, but Tom has put my mind at ease. At least for now.
I have to pack everything tomorrow. I leave on Tuesday morning, at a time when i would normally just be hitting my REM sleep. I don't have all my transportation booked. I don't have hostels booked. I don't have any clue what i want to see anywhere, but you know what, it's europe. no matter what happens everything will be great. And i can guarantee i will have some interesting stories for you; life hasn't let me down yet. Wierd situations gravitate to me.
Which brings me to my next point:
I hope to be regularly posting blogs about my 2 and a half week jaunt in Europe. I considered putting it up with my original blog from London, but i decided to do it here. So check in every now and then if you want to read stories about me trying to speak german to old people, me falling down stairs in a castle, or me searching for a vegetarian meal in the home of sausage. The possibilities are endless my friends, but please, do read, and more importantly, write comments so i am inspired to continue documenting my journey.
Let's be honest, this plan is nearly entirely selfish, it just forces me to keep a journal of my fun, which i would otherwise not do. So comment on things, i am pretty sure you can use it as a tax write off.
Here is my general itinerary, so you can have a little teaser:
London for a few days, Salzburg, Munich, bus tour of crazy king ludwig's castles in bavaria, a 6 hour train ride to prague , prague coincidentally, bratislava, vienna, london, and home.
the end is subject to change. as in it may not end.
31.10.08
Halloween Fun Day
Halloween is tied with Christmas for my favourite holiday, though i must admit it has lost a little something since i can't go trick or treating anymore. god i miss that candy.
i don't know what it is about it, but i have always loved it. i was very excited this year because i thought i would have ample time to enjoy the festivities, but somehow, i am nearly constantly busy despite my lack of any real employment.
i still haven't watched the nightmare before christmas, and i have done that every halloween and christmas since it came out. i must do that before i go to europe. thats the other thing. i decided to book a trip to europe in the second week of october, and will be leaving on tuesday. i went to vermont for a few days in the beginning, then connecticut, and am going back to connecticut tomorrow. every other day has been filled with some non-halloween activity. it was out of control. and so very wrong
so i decided this need to be remedied. all of my halloween fun was to happen in one day. with my friends sarah and ramon. they are married. they are just two of my married friends. i say this because they dont like being classified as my married friends, but yet i continue to do it.
anyway, we had planned out a super day of apple picking, pumpkin picking, pumpkin soup making, pumpkin carving, and possibly movie watching and board game playing. it was to be a thing of greatness. and it was. it really was. but it wouldnt be a day out with me unless something odd happened.
we get to eastmont orchards, where i have picked apples ever since i was young, at 10:15 am. i was so excited because the website said they were picking pippin apples from mid-october to the end of the season. i love pippin apples. and i have never found them elsewhere. we tried to rationalize why the parking lot was so empty. 'oh its a weekday' 'yeah and it's early in the morning' ' and its cold' 'right!' ' yeah!' 'this is going to be so great!'
we walk up to the people who hand you bags, take two and venture towards the trees. we walk around a bit, trying to stay optimistic, but slowly coming to the realization that there was not one single apple on a tree. not one. all i wanted was to pick one apple. off of a tree. not the ground.
it seemed they were picking 'drop apples' at a discounted price. ahem. yes. ground apples. apples that have fallen to the ground. a fruitarian's dream. but i am not a fruitarian. nor is sarah. or ramon. but what's this? a nice looking pippin apple on the ground! well..maybe if i just pick up the one.. BAH IT S MUSHY! and then i proceed to do my ew this is gross dance, very much like the one i do after i find out a bug was on me.
we soon decide that this stinks. and these apples stink. and WHY oh WHY could they not hold on for a nother week? WHY APPLES???? the carnage of dead apples was unbelievable. we also found a large poop from some unknown animal i can't even begin to guess. we moved on to the pumpkins.
we discuss our pumpkins and when i say i don't know what i am carving, sarah tells me "sometimes you have to let the pumpkin decide for you." so poetic. but then i saw it. it was a leaner. it had personality. it was mine. i decided it looked scared, like someone had just jumped out at it and it leaned back to get away. one thing led to another and i wound up buying two; another leaner to be the scary pumpkin.
so after the failure of the apples i suggest we go to delicious orchards to purchase apples and get some hot cider. which we did. we also made a breakfast of all the delicious samples they have out. crazy hippies we are.
we get back and make some delicious pumpkin soup, as well as come cous cous with great veggies. true hippies. then we set into the pumpkins.
as ramon plans out his Death Star (!!! you need to see it to believe it) and i start tracing out my scared face, i notice sarah struggling a bit. i feel like something must be wrong, pumpkins are not this hard to cut. so i try to poke a hole in it with little poker and it feels like going into wood. sarah tries to use her poker. it bends at a 90 degree angle. she abandons her steak knife for a futile attempt at using the little carving kit saw. which breaks off. in the pumpkin.
eventually she muscles through it like the champ she is and she breaks off the top. we gather around to see what kind of freakish insides it has, and we notice there is a thick white layer right underneath the orange skin that i have never seen before. how do these things happen? it was the strangest pumpkin of steel i have ever encountered.
our halloween day certainly had its tricks and treats, but it seems like it is always something wierd with us. i don't know,. maybe it's because we are weird. maybe its because the universe wants us to have stories to tell. maybe its so i can waste all of your lives by writing long posts and never editing anything. this may not even make sense. maybe i didnt even write it.....
mwahahahahaha.
happy halloween
i don't know what it is about it, but i have always loved it. i was very excited this year because i thought i would have ample time to enjoy the festivities, but somehow, i am nearly constantly busy despite my lack of any real employment.
i still haven't watched the nightmare before christmas, and i have done that every halloween and christmas since it came out. i must do that before i go to europe. thats the other thing. i decided to book a trip to europe in the second week of october, and will be leaving on tuesday. i went to vermont for a few days in the beginning, then connecticut, and am going back to connecticut tomorrow. every other day has been filled with some non-halloween activity. it was out of control. and so very wrong
so i decided this need to be remedied. all of my halloween fun was to happen in one day. with my friends sarah and ramon. they are married. they are just two of my married friends. i say this because they dont like being classified as my married friends, but yet i continue to do it.
anyway, we had planned out a super day of apple picking, pumpkin picking, pumpkin soup making, pumpkin carving, and possibly movie watching and board game playing. it was to be a thing of greatness. and it was. it really was. but it wouldnt be a day out with me unless something odd happened.
we get to eastmont orchards, where i have picked apples ever since i was young, at 10:15 am. i was so excited because the website said they were picking pippin apples from mid-october to the end of the season. i love pippin apples. and i have never found them elsewhere. we tried to rationalize why the parking lot was so empty. 'oh its a weekday' 'yeah and it's early in the morning' ' and its cold' 'right!' ' yeah!' 'this is going to be so great!'
we walk up to the people who hand you bags, take two and venture towards the trees. we walk around a bit, trying to stay optimistic, but slowly coming to the realization that there was not one single apple on a tree. not one. all i wanted was to pick one apple. off of a tree. not the ground.
it seemed they were picking 'drop apples' at a discounted price. ahem. yes. ground apples. apples that have fallen to the ground. a fruitarian's dream. but i am not a fruitarian. nor is sarah. or ramon. but what's this? a nice looking pippin apple on the ground! well..maybe if i just pick up the one.. BAH IT S MUSHY! and then i proceed to do my ew this is gross dance, very much like the one i do after i find out a bug was on me.
we soon decide that this stinks. and these apples stink. and WHY oh WHY could they not hold on for a nother week? WHY APPLES???? the carnage of dead apples was unbelievable. we also found a large poop from some unknown animal i can't even begin to guess. we moved on to the pumpkins.
we discuss our pumpkins and when i say i don't know what i am carving, sarah tells me "sometimes you have to let the pumpkin decide for you." so poetic. but then i saw it. it was a leaner. it had personality. it was mine. i decided it looked scared, like someone had just jumped out at it and it leaned back to get away. one thing led to another and i wound up buying two; another leaner to be the scary pumpkin.
so after the failure of the apples i suggest we go to delicious orchards to purchase apples and get some hot cider. which we did. we also made a breakfast of all the delicious samples they have out. crazy hippies we are.
we get back and make some delicious pumpkin soup, as well as come cous cous with great veggies. true hippies. then we set into the pumpkins.
as ramon plans out his Death Star (!!! you need to see it to believe it) and i start tracing out my scared face, i notice sarah struggling a bit. i feel like something must be wrong, pumpkins are not this hard to cut. so i try to poke a hole in it with little poker and it feels like going into wood. sarah tries to use her poker. it bends at a 90 degree angle. she abandons her steak knife for a futile attempt at using the little carving kit saw. which breaks off. in the pumpkin.
eventually she muscles through it like the champ she is and she breaks off the top. we gather around to see what kind of freakish insides it has, and we notice there is a thick white layer right underneath the orange skin that i have never seen before. how do these things happen? it was the strangest pumpkin of steel i have ever encountered.
our halloween day certainly had its tricks and treats, but it seems like it is always something wierd with us. i don't know,. maybe it's because we are weird. maybe its because the universe wants us to have stories to tell. maybe its so i can waste all of your lives by writing long posts and never editing anything. this may not even make sense. maybe i didnt even write it.....
mwahahahahaha.
happy halloween
Technology
In four years i have had three laptops.
And i almost lost another one today.
Let me tell you how it all began.
I went off to college and spent a miserable freshman year, writing 25 papers in one semester and wanting to die more and more every day. I even became a 'that girl'.
"oh.. stacey? is she that girl who showered at 3 in the morning?"
yes children, that was me. I was a hard worker. And so my computer was forced to be as well. But it was not my computer, rather my brother's old laptop from college, now it its 5th year.
The screen wouldn't stay up, so i kept it closed and used a docking station so that i could connect it to a desktop monitor. not sure why i didn't just use a regular desktop pc then...
But anyway, after a year of hard work, i moped home from class one day before finals season truly began only to find that my computer had taken its own life.
Yes you read that correctly. It just couldn't handle it anymore. It had been five years and just when it was ready to retire and relax, i forced it to churn out papers and to constantly hold onto long rambling away messages on aim. It just couldn't take it anymore. And so it was gone. And all i had left of it was a blue screen of death.
I called my brother because i don't know how to do anything with computers. He made me hold some button down. I am alone in my room with the door closed trying to fix something i don't even understand in the first place. I press this button. A shrill, terrifying beeping alarm begins! "AGGGGHHHHHHH!!!" i scream "WHAT IS HAPPENING?! oh my god. is this going to explode? did i hit the red button you aren't supposed to touch? what do i do? what is wrong? how do i fix this? i am so scared..." And Scott just laughs at me, as friends from 3 doors down the hall come running to my room to see if i am ok.
i was ok. but my computer would never be the same. it seemed the hard drive crashed . and the motherboard broke. and the men at the store said we could pay 500 dollars for them to attempt to retrieve information. I wrote all my final papers on some crazy archaic program that ran off a CD. i felt like i was in Ghostwriter. It seems a blur now. But that computer and i had been through a lot. And frankly, i was a little upset that it took the easy way out and i couldn't.
Sophomore year. My parents decide to get me my own laptop. So i get a Dell Inspiron full of hopes and dreams. It was so lovely having a laptop that i could actually use on top of my lap.
But this charade would not last long.
One day my computer screen stopped coming back up after the black screensaver came up. i hit the moush, the keys, closed and opened it. nothing. i had to restart. I could not figure out why this was happening, but i tried to deal with it. And it was rare. i could handle it.
Then one day, I was just sitting in my dorm room in Loyola talking about something ridiculous with Caroline when it happened.
what 'it' is is hard to explain. i used to have a video of 'it', but i think that has since been lost with the computer. I will try to make you understand... the screen all of the sudden had turned into tiny rectangles of alternating color, all piled on each other. a little like the bricks in Mac Brick Out from 4th grade (if you played that too). But this mosaic of messed up junk was not happy just showing up...no....it then proceeded to have a seizure of some sort for an infinite amount of time. they just shook, and slid past one another, until i restarted it.
It was the most absurd thing i had heard of happening to a computer. Scott agreed. He had never seen it before, which is why i had to take a video of it for him to understand. all in all, it was a freakish occurrence that probably has only ever happened to me and the 5 other people in the world who have ridiculous experiences nonstop.
This is when Scott spent many many hours on the phone with India. we sent my laptop to them. they sent it back. it flipped out again. they asked us to send it back. scott said no thank you. they said ok, we will send you a new one.
Which brings us to this computer on which i lovingly type. This computer is a little over two years old. It has been to London with me. It has recorded countless blogs and photos there. IT is has been to more websites than you can imagine, and has acquainted itself with facebook and youtube like no other computer you know.
But it was sick.
Really sick. In fact, we thought it was the end today. It has been showing signs of weakness. Like the fact that the battery will only last 8 minutes, and has been this way since the middle of senior year, so i must always have an outlet. It went through a rough patch over thanksgiving last year, but we worked through it. and it was the reason i don't really let anyone touch my computer anymore. after never having viruses the whole time, i suddenly had a trojan back door virus (hehe) and 20 others. but that is neither here nor there.
So scott set to work on this, as we had established it would either be a hard drive problem or a windows problem. I was upstairs checking my mail on one of the home computers ( there are two in the cellar. i dont really know what they do), when all of the sudden it begins to sound a little like the end of the world. I high pitched beeping was sounding. A slightly musical, yet terrifying alarm rang. Then the home phone rang. And the little white dog started barking. All we needed was for our washing machine to unbalance, and for me to start chanting 'the system is down' and you would have the best techno song the world has ever heard. the music video would include shots of the system check that kept coming up FAIL! in bright red. it would be sweet.
have no fear, loyal reader (and you must be quite loyal to be this far down this drivel), for this laptop story has a different ending. a happy one. for now at least.
Scott gets it to start working, seemingly, and calls me in to sign in. A pesky little pop up comes from the bottom right hand corner " updates ready for installation". "Pssh stupid updates. i hate you," i say as i close the irritating window with no second thought.
"What are you doing?" scott asks. "why did you not update? "
"oh . i hate updates. i dont do it. and itunes tries to make me update every day. no ! i won't do it! no i say! down with the man!"
"you're stupid. you are so stupid. this update says (technological phrase) #3. i am pretty sure we are on #4 and you havent updated to three. you are so stupid. everytime there is a big probelm in microsoft word or a bug or virus, they send out and update. you update. and then you are ok. you. do not update. this may be the problem. stupid"
ahem. so. the moral of the story is:
stacey molski should never interact with technology.
ever.
even if she wants to.
but she did have the same phone for four years and it was great and never had a problem and she kept really good care of it. but then she got a new one. because society and her phone plan told her to. and sometimes it opens the music player by itself and starts playing morrissey. yup.
help.
And i almost lost another one today.
Let me tell you how it all began.
I went off to college and spent a miserable freshman year, writing 25 papers in one semester and wanting to die more and more every day. I even became a 'that girl'.
"oh.. stacey? is she that girl who showered at 3 in the morning?"
yes children, that was me. I was a hard worker. And so my computer was forced to be as well. But it was not my computer, rather my brother's old laptop from college, now it its 5th year.
The screen wouldn't stay up, so i kept it closed and used a docking station so that i could connect it to a desktop monitor. not sure why i didn't just use a regular desktop pc then...
But anyway, after a year of hard work, i moped home from class one day before finals season truly began only to find that my computer had taken its own life.
Yes you read that correctly. It just couldn't handle it anymore. It had been five years and just when it was ready to retire and relax, i forced it to churn out papers and to constantly hold onto long rambling away messages on aim. It just couldn't take it anymore. And so it was gone. And all i had left of it was a blue screen of death.
I called my brother because i don't know how to do anything with computers. He made me hold some button down. I am alone in my room with the door closed trying to fix something i don't even understand in the first place. I press this button. A shrill, terrifying beeping alarm begins! "AGGGGHHHHHHH!!!" i scream "WHAT IS HAPPENING?! oh my god. is this going to explode? did i hit the red button you aren't supposed to touch? what do i do? what is wrong? how do i fix this? i am so scared..." And Scott just laughs at me, as friends from 3 doors down the hall come running to my room to see if i am ok.
i was ok. but my computer would never be the same. it seemed the hard drive crashed . and the motherboard broke. and the men at the store said we could pay 500 dollars for them to attempt to retrieve information. I wrote all my final papers on some crazy archaic program that ran off a CD. i felt like i was in Ghostwriter. It seems a blur now. But that computer and i had been through a lot. And frankly, i was a little upset that it took the easy way out and i couldn't.
Sophomore year. My parents decide to get me my own laptop. So i get a Dell Inspiron full of hopes and dreams. It was so lovely having a laptop that i could actually use on top of my lap.
But this charade would not last long.
One day my computer screen stopped coming back up after the black screensaver came up. i hit the moush, the keys, closed and opened it. nothing. i had to restart. I could not figure out why this was happening, but i tried to deal with it. And it was rare. i could handle it.
Then one day, I was just sitting in my dorm room in Loyola talking about something ridiculous with Caroline when it happened.
what 'it' is is hard to explain. i used to have a video of 'it', but i think that has since been lost with the computer. I will try to make you understand... the screen all of the sudden had turned into tiny rectangles of alternating color, all piled on each other. a little like the bricks in Mac Brick Out from 4th grade (if you played that too). But this mosaic of messed up junk was not happy just showing up...no....it then proceeded to have a seizure of some sort for an infinite amount of time. they just shook, and slid past one another, until i restarted it.
It was the most absurd thing i had heard of happening to a computer. Scott agreed. He had never seen it before, which is why i had to take a video of it for him to understand. all in all, it was a freakish occurrence that probably has only ever happened to me and the 5 other people in the world who have ridiculous experiences nonstop.
This is when Scott spent many many hours on the phone with India. we sent my laptop to them. they sent it back. it flipped out again. they asked us to send it back. scott said no thank you. they said ok, we will send you a new one.
Which brings us to this computer on which i lovingly type. This computer is a little over two years old. It has been to London with me. It has recorded countless blogs and photos there. IT is has been to more websites than you can imagine, and has acquainted itself with facebook and youtube like no other computer you know.
But it was sick.
Really sick. In fact, we thought it was the end today. It has been showing signs of weakness. Like the fact that the battery will only last 8 minutes, and has been this way since the middle of senior year, so i must always have an outlet. It went through a rough patch over thanksgiving last year, but we worked through it. and it was the reason i don't really let anyone touch my computer anymore. after never having viruses the whole time, i suddenly had a trojan back door virus (hehe) and 20 others. but that is neither here nor there.
So scott set to work on this, as we had established it would either be a hard drive problem or a windows problem. I was upstairs checking my mail on one of the home computers ( there are two in the cellar. i dont really know what they do), when all of the sudden it begins to sound a little like the end of the world. I high pitched beeping was sounding. A slightly musical, yet terrifying alarm rang. Then the home phone rang. And the little white dog started barking. All we needed was for our washing machine to unbalance, and for me to start chanting 'the system is down' and you would have the best techno song the world has ever heard. the music video would include shots of the system check that kept coming up FAIL! in bright red. it would be sweet.
have no fear, loyal reader (and you must be quite loyal to be this far down this drivel), for this laptop story has a different ending. a happy one. for now at least.
Scott gets it to start working, seemingly, and calls me in to sign in. A pesky little pop up comes from the bottom right hand corner " updates ready for installation". "Pssh stupid updates. i hate you," i say as i close the irritating window with no second thought.
"What are you doing?" scott asks. "why did you not update? "
"oh . i hate updates. i dont do it. and itunes tries to make me update every day. no ! i won't do it! no i say! down with the man!"
"you're stupid. you are so stupid. this update says (technological phrase) #3. i am pretty sure we are on #4 and you havent updated to three. you are so stupid. everytime there is a big probelm in microsoft word or a bug or virus, they send out and update. you update. and then you are ok. you. do not update. this may be the problem. stupid"
ahem. so. the moral of the story is:
stacey molski should never interact with technology.
ever.
even if she wants to.
but she did have the same phone for four years and it was great and never had a problem and she kept really good care of it. but then she got a new one. because society and her phone plan told her to. and sometimes it opens the music player by itself and starts playing morrissey. yup.
help.
26.10.08
just a quick update
So there are a few things i would like to write about on here, but i am afraid i cannot allow myself any real extracurricular writing until i finish this article for this freelance job.
i just want to again reveal how creepy the 'bbc america reveals 'specials are.
i spoke of the one about men that lived and slept with 'real life dolls'.ahem. yeah. which made me want to shower forever and then die.
well now one just came on about "reborn" babies. terrifying lifelike babies that one can order and carry around like a real baby. you can have breathing mechanisms, warming pouches, etc etc. and you can push them around in a pram and get the attention a new mom gets whenever you like it.
no. sorry. this is worse than the man doll thing. if you want a baby so much that you are going to buy a sketchy doll and carry it around, maybe you should look into adopting a baby. maybe take care of the babies that need your help, instead of having one manufactured for you. or is that too much trouble? because real babies cry and poop and throw up and love. how can this doll be fulfilling?
actually, no, the people who buy these should not adopt a baby. because clearly they cannot handle the reality or responsibilty that comes with one.
and that's fine. neither can i right now. but i will not push around a doll just so people can come talk to me about my "baby". this makes me sad. isn't there another outlet for these people? go to a concert. read a book.
i don't understand the world. and i am wierd. good luck to you normal people out there.
http://www.boingboing.net/2008/07/16/police-smash-car-win.html
i just want to again reveal how creepy the 'bbc america reveals 'specials are.
i spoke of the one about men that lived and slept with 'real life dolls'.ahem. yeah. which made me want to shower forever and then die.
well now one just came on about "reborn" babies. terrifying lifelike babies that one can order and carry around like a real baby. you can have breathing mechanisms, warming pouches, etc etc. and you can push them around in a pram and get the attention a new mom gets whenever you like it.
no. sorry. this is worse than the man doll thing. if you want a baby so much that you are going to buy a sketchy doll and carry it around, maybe you should look into adopting a baby. maybe take care of the babies that need your help, instead of having one manufactured for you. or is that too much trouble? because real babies cry and poop and throw up and love. how can this doll be fulfilling?
actually, no, the people who buy these should not adopt a baby. because clearly they cannot handle the reality or responsibilty that comes with one.
and that's fine. neither can i right now. but i will not push around a doll just so people can come talk to me about my "baby". this makes me sad. isn't there another outlet for these people? go to a concert. read a book.
i don't understand the world. and i am wierd. good luck to you normal people out there.
http://www.boingboing.net/2008/07/16/police-smash-car-win.html
7.10.08
my early literature
so i was looking through my old books from when i was little so that i could bring them to the 3 yr old i will be babysitting in vermont. (more on that later, wish me luck)...
and i found a box where 1/3 of the books dealt with halloween. because i love halloween and i guess i always have. i found it odd that i had so many halloween books in comparison to others. i also had some big TaleSpin books, which i want to go read.
but mainly, i considered my all time favorite book (which i got when i was 3, coincidentally) the book is 'the elephants child'. the author is rudyard kipling. he is a racist. and an imperialist. but i still like him.
it's also about an elephant that got spanked for asking too many questions, so he sets off on an adventure to find the crocodile because his relatives (who are all different sorts of animals and not just elephants, but that is another story) told him to go ask the crocodile. then he almost gets eaten by the crocodile, but a snake helps him pull and pull. so his nose gets long. and then the elephant has a trunk. and then he spanked his relatives. then all his relatives went to go get a trunk. then they all had long trunks and could pick things up and splash mud on themselves and kill flies and they were happy elephants.
really?
is this strange? because i am starting to think this is very strange. and i think this explains a lot. this does not sound like a normal book normal children would like.
although my other favorite book was the poky little puppy's winter day or something like that. it is about cute puppies who eat oatmeal and frolick through the snow having so much fun until they go home sooo tired and happy that the poky little puppy falls asleep before he can eat his shortcake.
oh dear. i just ruined the ending. i am so sorry. i should have written a spoiler alert.
but that book sounds like a normal kid book. i think this was my cover for when my friends asked. so i could look normal. it was not the book i forced my mother to read over and over and over. maybe i just liked making her try to consistently pronounce kipling's lengthy sentences. For example:
" Then the Bi-Colored-Python-Rock-Snake came down from the bank, and knotted himself in a double-clove-hitch round the Elephant Child's hind legs, and said, "Rash and inexperienced traveler, we will now seriously devote ourselves to a little high tension, because if we do not, it is my impression that yonder self-propelling man-of-war with the armor-plated upper deck" (and by this, O Best Beloved, he meant the Crocodile) "will permanently vitiate your future career." This is the way all Bi-Colored-Python-Rock-Snakes always talk. "
3. 3 years old. june 23rd 1989 to be exact. i still don't even know what 'vitiate' means.
i was never a normal child.
and i found a box where 1/3 of the books dealt with halloween. because i love halloween and i guess i always have. i found it odd that i had so many halloween books in comparison to others. i also had some big TaleSpin books, which i want to go read.
but mainly, i considered my all time favorite book (which i got when i was 3, coincidentally) the book is 'the elephants child'. the author is rudyard kipling. he is a racist. and an imperialist. but i still like him.
it's also about an elephant that got spanked for asking too many questions, so he sets off on an adventure to find the crocodile because his relatives (who are all different sorts of animals and not just elephants, but that is another story) told him to go ask the crocodile. then he almost gets eaten by the crocodile, but a snake helps him pull and pull. so his nose gets long. and then the elephant has a trunk. and then he spanked his relatives. then all his relatives went to go get a trunk. then they all had long trunks and could pick things up and splash mud on themselves and kill flies and they were happy elephants.
really?
is this strange? because i am starting to think this is very strange. and i think this explains a lot. this does not sound like a normal book normal children would like.
although my other favorite book was the poky little puppy's winter day or something like that. it is about cute puppies who eat oatmeal and frolick through the snow having so much fun until they go home sooo tired and happy that the poky little puppy falls asleep before he can eat his shortcake.
oh dear. i just ruined the ending. i am so sorry. i should have written a spoiler alert.
but that book sounds like a normal kid book. i think this was my cover for when my friends asked. so i could look normal. it was not the book i forced my mother to read over and over and over. maybe i just liked making her try to consistently pronounce kipling's lengthy sentences. For example:
" Then the Bi-Colored-Python-Rock-Snake came down from the bank, and knotted himself in a double-clove-hitch round the Elephant Child's hind legs, and said, "Rash and inexperienced traveler, we will now seriously devote ourselves to a little high tension, because if we do not, it is my impression that yonder self-propelling man-of-war with the armor-plated upper deck" (and by this, O Best Beloved, he meant the Crocodile) "will permanently vitiate your future career." This is the way all Bi-Colored-Python-Rock-Snakes always talk. "
3. 3 years old. june 23rd 1989 to be exact. i still don't even know what 'vitiate' means.
i was never a normal child.
14.9.08
i hate politics
...but....
here are three things i have found that have made me chuckle in some way, despite all this crazy political anger swirling about:
John McCain Gets Rick Rolled
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_TiQCJXpbKg
Get Fuzzy references Monty Python (click on to enlarge)
i am so glad someone else out there keeps thinking of Michael Palin every time someone mentions Sarah Palin. Now if Michael Palin were up for VP, i would vote for him any day. Too bad he is not an American citizen. details.
And Once More
here are three things i have found that have made me chuckle in some way, despite all this crazy political anger swirling about:
John McCain Gets Rick Rolled
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_TiQCJXpbKg
Get Fuzzy references Monty Python (click on to enlarge)
i am so glad someone else out there keeps thinking of Michael Palin every time someone mentions Sarah Palin. Now if Michael Palin were up for VP, i would vote for him any day. Too bad he is not an American citizen. details.
And Once More
hope you like these nice innocent political references. have a super day
9.9.08
to: you or current viewer
i am trying to get back into writing some of these. so here is just a quick note on life.
today i collected the mail, and one catalogue shoved in my little house-shaped mailbox was addressed to "anita molski or current resident".
every time i see this i get a little upset. i mean, really, why even send it? clearly you don't care if anita gets it, which means it cannot be worth anything. you are just killing precious trees and wasting my mailman's time. he could otherwise be sitting under the tree in my front yard talking on his cell phone and drinking a water bottle, while i skillfully avoid letting him see me sitting by the bay window on computer in order to allow him a little down time. and avoid some high quality awkward eye contact. i mean..not that this has happened... well, yes, it has. government work is great.
and let's be honest, this "or current resident" thing is just a little hurtful. you look down, see your name, and think ' yay! mail that is not a bill!' then you see that they are happy with just anyone flipping through their pages of products. they don't even particularly want YOU to buy anything. nope, they are happy if the squatter who has moved in while we are on vacation circles things he would buy if he had any kind of disposable income. i mean... not that this has happened. well, this one really didn't happen. or at least i don't know. i guess the "or current resident" could have stolen my catalogue. jerk.
you know what, squatter? that's fine, keep my magazines. ink it up all you want. i can't even get you on the fact that opening someone else's mail is illegal. because it's not my mail. it belongs to me... or anyone who happens to be conveniently sleeping in this house at that time.
thank you, but i will buy my products from a catalogue that believes in me.
today i collected the mail, and one catalogue shoved in my little house-shaped mailbox was addressed to "anita molski or current resident".
every time i see this i get a little upset. i mean, really, why even send it? clearly you don't care if anita gets it, which means it cannot be worth anything. you are just killing precious trees and wasting my mailman's time. he could otherwise be sitting under the tree in my front yard talking on his cell phone and drinking a water bottle, while i skillfully avoid letting him see me sitting by the bay window on computer in order to allow him a little down time. and avoid some high quality awkward eye contact. i mean..not that this has happened... well, yes, it has. government work is great.
and let's be honest, this "or current resident" thing is just a little hurtful. you look down, see your name, and think ' yay! mail that is not a bill!' then you see that they are happy with just anyone flipping through their pages of products. they don't even particularly want YOU to buy anything. nope, they are happy if the squatter who has moved in while we are on vacation circles things he would buy if he had any kind of disposable income. i mean... not that this has happened. well, this one really didn't happen. or at least i don't know. i guess the "or current resident" could have stolen my catalogue. jerk.
you know what, squatter? that's fine, keep my magazines. ink it up all you want. i can't even get you on the fact that opening someone else's mail is illegal. because it's not my mail. it belongs to me... or anyone who happens to be conveniently sleeping in this house at that time.
thank you, but i will buy my products from a catalogue that believes in me.
8.9.08
The BBC just won me back
I just finished hating that whole show, and the next thing that comes on is a disclaimer saying:
"Be warned the following progamme contains english accents and therefore subtitles have been used for the easily confused"
HA. you win BBC.
"Be warned the following progamme contains english accents and therefore subtitles have been used for the easily confused"
HA. you win BBC.
25.6.08
Uncomical Comics
As we all know, i am not a functioning member of the adult world. I do not read the news. i do not watch the news. i do not create news. news is sad for the most part and when i do read it, i just get sad. or angry. better off to stay uninformed.
I do like newspapers though. They smell nice and you can lift off the newsprint with silly putty. but if i don't read news, why would i like the newspaper? well, where else can you start your day with loads of comics, the jumble, and crossword puzzles all in one place? no where, that's where.
So i read, i enjoy, i smile, rarely i giggle if something is worthy. Most of it is at least light-hearted or includes some sort of snarky musing about daily life. My favorites at this point are F-Minus. (see the link) I think that guy is a genius. Also pretty reliable are Get Fuzzy and of course, Peanuts.
There has always been some sort of underlying irritation that i found when i read the comics, though, and i try to ignore it, but alas, i cannot. I will no longer stand for "comics" that address serious life issues or make vast overly political statements.
For example, For Better or for Worse, never a favorite of mine, but one that used to at least not harrass me with death every morning. The past few weeks have been all about the grandfather that has alzheimer's and how this girl wants to get her wedding in before he dies. Really? REALLY? this is a comic? lest i look it up and give you the webster's dictionary of comic, i think we can all agree that this is uncalled for. if i wanted to wake up to death and sickness, i would not seek out the comics, i would beeline for the obituaries. (which i think my mom does...and she calls me depressing for listening to morrissey. well anita, just get yourself in check)
Also, things like doonesbury, which just had a whole thing full of bushisms as their strip, is often far too political for me to enjoy with my unassuming bowl of cereal. but at least this time the dumb things bush said were funny; sometimes the politics can just be obnoxious. it's not that i have no political views; it's that i don't like discussing them..or reading about others' for that matter.
i mean really, what happened to the days when i would be handed the comic section as a little kid and could understand and enjoy at least 95 percent of the comics there? even if things like F-minus went over my head, it at least is funny to someone, and doesn't make me paranoid about my grandparents dying. i don't want to stifle any sort of artistic license; it is a great way to get out your opinions and frustrations, but there is a proper outlet for these things. and it is not next to snoopy or anywhere near my crossword puzzle. is it too much to ask to keep the comics just a bit comic?
I do like newspapers though. They smell nice and you can lift off the newsprint with silly putty. but if i don't read news, why would i like the newspaper? well, where else can you start your day with loads of comics, the jumble, and crossword puzzles all in one place? no where, that's where.
So i read, i enjoy, i smile, rarely i giggle if something is worthy. Most of it is at least light-hearted or includes some sort of snarky musing about daily life. My favorites at this point are F-Minus. (see the link) I think that guy is a genius. Also pretty reliable are Get Fuzzy and of course, Peanuts.
There has always been some sort of underlying irritation that i found when i read the comics, though, and i try to ignore it, but alas, i cannot. I will no longer stand for "comics" that address serious life issues or make vast overly political statements.
For example, For Better or for Worse, never a favorite of mine, but one that used to at least not harrass me with death every morning. The past few weeks have been all about the grandfather that has alzheimer's and how this girl wants to get her wedding in before he dies. Really? REALLY? this is a comic? lest i look it up and give you the webster's dictionary of comic, i think we can all agree that this is uncalled for. if i wanted to wake up to death and sickness, i would not seek out the comics, i would beeline for the obituaries. (which i think my mom does...and she calls me depressing for listening to morrissey. well anita, just get yourself in check)
Also, things like doonesbury, which just had a whole thing full of bushisms as their strip, is often far too political for me to enjoy with my unassuming bowl of cereal. but at least this time the dumb things bush said were funny; sometimes the politics can just be obnoxious. it's not that i have no political views; it's that i don't like discussing them..or reading about others' for that matter.
i mean really, what happened to the days when i would be handed the comic section as a little kid and could understand and enjoy at least 95 percent of the comics there? even if things like F-minus went over my head, it at least is funny to someone, and doesn't make me paranoid about my grandparents dying. i don't want to stifle any sort of artistic license; it is a great way to get out your opinions and frustrations, but there is a proper outlet for these things. and it is not next to snoopy or anywhere near my crossword puzzle. is it too much to ask to keep the comics just a bit comic?
11.6.08
yearly horoscope. ha
caroline and i used to read these because they were hilarious. but this one yearly horoscope is all too applicable. i wanted to remember it. this is from yahoo horoscopes
Cozy Cancer will have a great year focusing on the home front. So much of your energy will be giving more to your personal relationships and partnerships. Security and home is such an important part of your makeup and will take center stage in your priorities. Being emotionally sensitive to good relationships that are nourishing and loving will help add harmony in all aspects of your life. The changes you experience in your life will be deeply felt and lasting.
Positive things come from the deep level of attention you give to these transformational opportunities. You will reap great rewards as you learn to expand your communication skills and be true to your inner self and your own personal needs. You are learning new ways of maintaining harmony in your individuality at work and around friends and family. It is important for you to maintain a positive self-image the way you define who you are and how you feel about life as you bring your energy out into the world.
You desire recognition and the more you focus on keeping up a good attitude about your career and life in general, people that you thought overlooked your good efforts will be your greatest and most supportive allies. New opportunities to venture out on your own in business will open up for you, yet if you decide to stay where you are, you will be reaping financial rewards as well. Keep your optimism strong no matter if you decide to move on or stay where you are. Between juggling your own needs and maintaining balance in your relationships, summer will be a wonderful time to get away and take time out for yourself to enjoy relaxing by the sea, swimming and enjoying life.
Cozy Cancer will have a great year focusing on the home front. So much of your energy will be giving more to your personal relationships and partnerships. Security and home is such an important part of your makeup and will take center stage in your priorities. Being emotionally sensitive to good relationships that are nourishing and loving will help add harmony in all aspects of your life. The changes you experience in your life will be deeply felt and lasting.
Positive things come from the deep level of attention you give to these transformational opportunities. You will reap great rewards as you learn to expand your communication skills and be true to your inner self and your own personal needs. You are learning new ways of maintaining harmony in your individuality at work and around friends and family. It is important for you to maintain a positive self-image the way you define who you are and how you feel about life as you bring your energy out into the world.
You desire recognition and the more you focus on keeping up a good attitude about your career and life in general, people that you thought overlooked your good efforts will be your greatest and most supportive allies. New opportunities to venture out on your own in business will open up for you, yet if you decide to stay where you are, you will be reaping financial rewards as well. Keep your optimism strong no matter if you decide to move on or stay where you are. Between juggling your own needs and maintaining balance in your relationships, summer will be a wonderful time to get away and take time out for yourself to enjoy relaxing by the sea, swimming and enjoying life.
7.6.08
volume II of the same book
518. love deeply and passionately. you might get hurt, but it's the only way to live life completely.
522. volunteer. sometimes the jobs no one wants conceal big opportunities.
530. never miss an opportunity to have someone rub your back
531. never miss an opportunity to sleep on a screened-in porch
535. remember the advice of our friend ken beck: when you see a box turtle crossing the road, stop and put it safely on the other side.
548. don't judge people by their relatives.
553. talk slow but think quick.
557. never betray a confidence
565. tour the main branch of the public library on fifth avenue the next time you are in new york city. unforgettable
571. take along a small gift for the host or hostess when you're a dinner guest. a book is a good choice.
573. don't overlook life's small joys while searching for the big ones
576. don't let a little dispute injure a great friendship
596. never say anything uncomplimentary about another person's dog
609. when boarding a bus, say 'hello' to the driver. say 'thank you' when you get off.
611. write a short note inside the front cover when giving a book as a gift
621. make allowances for your friends imperfections as readily as you do for your own
628. don't waste time trying to appreciate music you dislike. spend time with music you love.
629. do the right thing, regardless of what others think.
632. ask yourself if you would feel comfortable giving your best friend a key to your house. if not, look for a new best friend.
636.life will sometimes hand you a magical moment . savor it.
641. take the stairs when its four flights or less
645. hold yourself to the highest standards
648. don't confuse comfort with happiness
649.don't confuse wealth with success
654. make a habit of reading something inspiring and cheerful just before going to sleep
664. learn to bake bread
667 be an original. if that means being a little eccentric, so be it
670. when it comes to worrying or painting a picture, know when to stop
675. pay as much attention to the things that are working positively in your life as you do to those that are giving you trouble
684. you may be fortunate and make a lot of money,b ut be sure your work involves something that enriches your spirit as well as your bank account
696 when you say ' i love you', mean it
704 watch your attitude. its the first thing people notice about you
710 read more books
713. buy three best-selling children's books. read them and then give them to a youngster
722 don't confuse mere inconveniences with real problems
730 learn to juggle
741 keep your private thoughts private
745 be humble and polite but dont let anyone push you around
754 every so often let your spirit of adventure triumph over your good sense
758. surprise an old friend with a phone call
768 dont accept unacceptable behavior
776 write your favorite author a note of appreciation
784 stop and watch stonemasons at work
785 stop and watch a farmer plowing a field
522. volunteer. sometimes the jobs no one wants conceal big opportunities.
530. never miss an opportunity to have someone rub your back
531. never miss an opportunity to sleep on a screened-in porch
535. remember the advice of our friend ken beck: when you see a box turtle crossing the road, stop and put it safely on the other side.
548. don't judge people by their relatives.
553. talk slow but think quick.
557. never betray a confidence
565. tour the main branch of the public library on fifth avenue the next time you are in new york city. unforgettable
571. take along a small gift for the host or hostess when you're a dinner guest. a book is a good choice.
573. don't overlook life's small joys while searching for the big ones
576. don't let a little dispute injure a great friendship
596. never say anything uncomplimentary about another person's dog
609. when boarding a bus, say 'hello' to the driver. say 'thank you' when you get off.
611. write a short note inside the front cover when giving a book as a gift
621. make allowances for your friends imperfections as readily as you do for your own
628. don't waste time trying to appreciate music you dislike. spend time with music you love.
629. do the right thing, regardless of what others think.
632. ask yourself if you would feel comfortable giving your best friend a key to your house. if not, look for a new best friend.
636.life will sometimes hand you a magical moment . savor it.
641. take the stairs when its four flights or less
645. hold yourself to the highest standards
648. don't confuse comfort with happiness
649.don't confuse wealth with success
654. make a habit of reading something inspiring and cheerful just before going to sleep
664. learn to bake bread
667 be an original. if that means being a little eccentric, so be it
670. when it comes to worrying or painting a picture, know when to stop
675. pay as much attention to the things that are working positively in your life as you do to those that are giving you trouble
684. you may be fortunate and make a lot of money,b ut be sure your work involves something that enriches your spirit as well as your bank account
696 when you say ' i love you', mean it
704 watch your attitude. its the first thing people notice about you
710 read more books
713. buy three best-selling children's books. read them and then give them to a youngster
722 don't confuse mere inconveniences with real problems
730 learn to juggle
741 keep your private thoughts private
745 be humble and polite but dont let anyone push you around
754 every so often let your spirit of adventure triumph over your good sense
758. surprise an old friend with a phone call
768 dont accept unacceptable behavior
776 write your favorite author a note of appreciation
784 stop and watch stonemasons at work
785 stop and watch a farmer plowing a field
4.6.08
life's little instruction book volume 1
so i will be writing about my lovely long weekend soon, but for now, i have been reading this book my parents got me for graduation. it is entitled 'the complete life's little instruction book'. i have typed out my favorites from volume one, either ones i really like, or ones i need to do:
1. compliment three people every day
6. have a firm handshake
8. look people in the eye
14.buy great books, even if you never read them.
38. make new friends but cherish the old ones
41. never refuse homemade brownies
42. don’t postpone joy
63. use your wit to amuse, not abuse.
68. always accept an outstretched hand
70. whistle
75. ride a bike
94. make a habit to do nice things for people who’ll never find it out.
122. stop and read historical roadside markers
127. wear audacious underwear under the most solemn business attire
133. when someone is relating an important event that’s happened to them, don’t try to top them with a story of your own. Let them have the stage.
158. be tough-minded but tender hearted
164. avoid negative people
178. be kinder than necessary
183. let people know what you stand for – and what you won’t stand for
184. don’t forget, a person’s need is to feel appreciated
194. eat less red meat
203. show respect for all living things
205. choose work that is in harmony with your values
206. loosen up. Relax. Except for rare life-and-death matters, nothing is as important as it seems
227. when someone hugs you, let them be the first to let go
230. keep good company
253. take good care of those you love
261. don’t gossip
262 don’t nag
289. get and stay in shape
290. find some other way of proving your manhood than by shooting defenseless animals and birds
292. don’t spread yourself too thin. Learn to say no politely and quickly
330. every so often push your luck
323 rekindle old friendhips
340 reread your favorite book
353 be there when people need you
354 never waste an opportunity to tell someone you love them
360. never eat the last cookie
367. remember no one makes it alone. Have a grateful heart and be quick to acknowledge those who help you.
381. be loyal
382. understand that happiness is not based on possessions, power, or prestige, but on relationships with people you love and respect.
383 street musicians are a treasure. Stop for a moment and listen; then leave a small donation.
398. if you’re going to be weird, be confident about it
400. begin each day with your favorite music.
413. be enthusiastic about the success of others
419. get your priorties straight. No one ever said on his death bed, “gee, if I’d only spent more time at the office”
430. have a friend who owns a truck
442, laugh a lot. A good sense of humor cures almost all of life’s ills.
443. never compromise your integrity
444. never underestimate the power of a kind word or deed.
455. show respect for everyone who works for a living, regardless of how trivial their job.
460. look for opportunities to make people feel important
461. don’t miss the magic of the moment by focusing on what’s to come.
462. don’t use time or words carefully. Neither can be retrieved
474. don’t expect others to listen to your advice and ignore the example
485. patronize local merchants even if it costs a bit more
503. be alert for opportunities to show praise and appreciation
504.commit yourself to quality.
509. marry only for love
1. compliment three people every day
6. have a firm handshake
8. look people in the eye
14.buy great books, even if you never read them.
38. make new friends but cherish the old ones
41. never refuse homemade brownies
42. don’t postpone joy
63. use your wit to amuse, not abuse.
68. always accept an outstretched hand
70. whistle
75. ride a bike
94. make a habit to do nice things for people who’ll never find it out.
122. stop and read historical roadside markers
127. wear audacious underwear under the most solemn business attire
133. when someone is relating an important event that’s happened to them, don’t try to top them with a story of your own. Let them have the stage.
158. be tough-minded but tender hearted
164. avoid negative people
178. be kinder than necessary
183. let people know what you stand for – and what you won’t stand for
184. don’t forget, a person’s need is to feel appreciated
194. eat less red meat
203. show respect for all living things
205. choose work that is in harmony with your values
206. loosen up. Relax. Except for rare life-and-death matters, nothing is as important as it seems
227. when someone hugs you, let them be the first to let go
230. keep good company
253. take good care of those you love
261. don’t gossip
262 don’t nag
289. get and stay in shape
290. find some other way of proving your manhood than by shooting defenseless animals and birds
292. don’t spread yourself too thin. Learn to say no politely and quickly
330. every so often push your luck
323 rekindle old friendhips
340 reread your favorite book
353 be there when people need you
354 never waste an opportunity to tell someone you love them
360. never eat the last cookie
367. remember no one makes it alone. Have a grateful heart and be quick to acknowledge those who help you.
381. be loyal
382. understand that happiness is not based on possessions, power, or prestige, but on relationships with people you love and respect.
383 street musicians are a treasure. Stop for a moment and listen; then leave a small donation.
398. if you’re going to be weird, be confident about it
400. begin each day with your favorite music.
413. be enthusiastic about the success of others
419. get your priorties straight. No one ever said on his death bed, “gee, if I’d only spent more time at the office”
430. have a friend who owns a truck
442, laugh a lot. A good sense of humor cures almost all of life’s ills.
443. never compromise your integrity
444. never underestimate the power of a kind word or deed.
455. show respect for everyone who works for a living, regardless of how trivial their job.
460. look for opportunities to make people feel important
461. don’t miss the magic of the moment by focusing on what’s to come.
462. don’t use time or words carefully. Neither can be retrieved
474. don’t expect others to listen to your advice and ignore the example
485. patronize local merchants even if it costs a bit more
503. be alert for opportunities to show praise and appreciation
504.commit yourself to quality.
509. marry only for love
3.6.08
photo frame models
These people totally don't even know one another.
What if you were one of those models in the photos that frames come with?
Sometimes they really look like they could be friends or family of someone i know, having a super picnic, or looking so in love while frolicking down a sandy shore.
Sure all models do this, but most are in catalogues. These picture frame people are so much more personal. It's weird. It's actually a bit creepy. I mean, we know its a picture frame. We've seen picture frames before, it really doesn't neccessitate an example photograph. And now these people are just sitting there looking at you like they deserve to be hung on your wall or placed lovingly on your nighttable. Then you take it out, crumple it up and throw it away. The whole idea sketches me out.
What about the families of those models? Do they buy these frames and just slap them on the wall? That's what i would do. Save time and money. And really, if its your daughter or son modeling in that picture, how are they going to feel when you crumple up that picture to put in a photo of the same kid. I think you just have to craft your own frames in this situation. Otherwise you're going to have a lot of the same creepy photo of the same creepy people.
technological libraries
My library has gone quite technological and digital on us all. I do not know what your library is like, though i hope it is not like mine.Let's not misunderstand here; my library is new and architecturally lovely. It is full of wonderful books, cds, movies, anything you might want to entertain you. But it is too new, too crisp. I think a library should smell a bit musty, like old dusty books. I think there should be dark corners, overflowing wooden bookshelves, and tiny old ladies with tiny old lady glasses sitting under a tiny old lady lamp. In addition to aesthetics, there is no longer any human interaction needed in my library. I don't really like interacting with humans if i can avoid it, so it's weird that this would bother me. I always do self-checkout at a grocery store. No one needs to see what i am buying. And i suppose no one needs to see what i am reading, listening to, or watching. I just feel like at library a certain ritual is expected and oddly cherished.
I miss the days of going up to the counter as a young child with the many books i have picked out teetering dangerously on the brink of my forearms, handing my card that i was so proud to have to the librarian, and watching her stamp each book carefully and patiently. Each stamp was almost like an acheivement for me, because that stamp represented me. When that book was returned, that stamp would show that i read that book, and when i read that book.
These days i dont need that sense of accomplishment from reading a book (though sometimes i do feel it since i dont read nearly as much as i want to), but i still miss the stamping. When i go to the library now, i insert my card into a reader that senses the chip in it. The touch screen usually crassly and silently tells me i owe money in overdue fines before allowing me to place my findings on the sensor pad that registers each item into the computer. When i am all done with this a reciept is printed telling me when the items are due, which i shove into one of the books and dont look at again until the library's automated system calls my house to mispronounce my name and tell me i have insert-number-here items overdue .
It makes me sad to have no stamp. I loved flipping to the front or back cover to see how many times a book has been read. Some books fly through those cards and just fill them up in a matter of days. Others have only 2 or 3 stamps, clearly marking a neglected book. Now i get a book, and it has a card, but no stamps. Just a blank,untouched card. It is like the book has no history. Maybe it's never been read. Maybe it just sits in that library day in day out with no hope of attention. Maybe i am crazy for personifying bound paper and ink. Nevertheless, i do. I think its wondeful when i pick up a crumbly old book from Fairfield's library and see that it hasnt been checked out in 37 years. 37 years of no human contact. Of that information just lying there wasted. It just intrigues me so much more to find those books. It's like i have found a hidden secret, shared only by me and 12 March 1971, whoever that may be.
27.5.08
Valedictory Speech
Click on the above title ("Valedictory Speech") then click the link for the 2008 Valedictory Address.
Things happen to me so that i can tell a funny story later on in my life.
A prime example of this is the fact that through a glorified speech writing competition, i was chosen to give the valedictory address to my fellow classmates, and about 7 or 8 thousand other people.
This is hilariously ironic for three main reasons:
1) I disliked about 80 percent of my time at school as it was occurring (though i enjoyed the last semester and looking back the others werent so bad)
2) I am one of the most cynical people you will ever meet
3) I currently have no future. 2 of the other finalists are respectively going on to med school and to get a masters in theology.
Other reasons, like the fact that i am not religious and did not use the word "God" once in a speech for a Jesuit school, and the fact that i actualyl am terrified of public speaking and hate having anyone but teacher's read my work are also somewhat amusing.
However, a lot of people seemed to genuinely like the speech. I mean not just friends who have to pretend to, but i wouls say upwards of 20 people stopped me throughout the day to tell me how much they truly loved it. It was odd.
A woman came up to me with her small child and said "my daughter wants your autograph. she loved what you said so much and she said ' mommy i want to be just like her when i grow up'" . i was baffled by this. i thanked the little girl, asked her name, shook and her hand, and instead of telling her to place her admiration in a more worthy contender, i just said " i bet you can do even better". She wants to be a teacher. She's got better goals than i do. So i apologized for the fact that no one had a pen and i could not sign her program for her, and told her she would be a fantastic teacher.
I don't know what to do with things like this.
Then in a restaurant an elderly woman, someone'es grandma complimented me profusely and told me i should be on TV and that i have a great voice (who was she listening to?). She said her son loved it and that he was in communications and would write me a letter and get me a job. She then proceeded to introduce me to her son, and then her grandson. I said i didn't know him and i don't know many math majors besides caroline. Then his mom said " oh he says you were in the same art history class"
whoops. so i was mumbled some excuse about the class size (25 people tops) and said haveagreatdaybye.
It was the craziest day. I still don't believe any of this happened. I am expecting it all to be a big joke that no one wants to let me in on. But until a hidden camera man pops out, you can all watch this. I can't. I heard myself say "good morning" on the video and started to freak out at the sound of my own voice and had to turn it off. I don't think i am meant to be on TV.
Things happen to me so that i can tell a funny story later on in my life.
A prime example of this is the fact that through a glorified speech writing competition, i was chosen to give the valedictory address to my fellow classmates, and about 7 or 8 thousand other people.
This is hilariously ironic for three main reasons:
1) I disliked about 80 percent of my time at school as it was occurring (though i enjoyed the last semester and looking back the others werent so bad)
2) I am one of the most cynical people you will ever meet
3) I currently have no future. 2 of the other finalists are respectively going on to med school and to get a masters in theology.
Other reasons, like the fact that i am not religious and did not use the word "God" once in a speech for a Jesuit school, and the fact that i actualyl am terrified of public speaking and hate having anyone but teacher's read my work are also somewhat amusing.
However, a lot of people seemed to genuinely like the speech. I mean not just friends who have to pretend to, but i wouls say upwards of 20 people stopped me throughout the day to tell me how much they truly loved it. It was odd.
A woman came up to me with her small child and said "my daughter wants your autograph. she loved what you said so much and she said ' mommy i want to be just like her when i grow up'" . i was baffled by this. i thanked the little girl, asked her name, shook and her hand, and instead of telling her to place her admiration in a more worthy contender, i just said " i bet you can do even better". She wants to be a teacher. She's got better goals than i do. So i apologized for the fact that no one had a pen and i could not sign her program for her, and told her she would be a fantastic teacher.
I don't know what to do with things like this.
Then in a restaurant an elderly woman, someone'es grandma complimented me profusely and told me i should be on TV and that i have a great voice (who was she listening to?). She said her son loved it and that he was in communications and would write me a letter and get me a job. She then proceeded to introduce me to her son, and then her grandson. I said i didn't know him and i don't know many math majors besides caroline. Then his mom said " oh he says you were in the same art history class"
whoops. so i was mumbled some excuse about the class size (25 people tops) and said haveagreatdaybye.
It was the craziest day. I still don't believe any of this happened. I am expecting it all to be a big joke that no one wants to let me in on. But until a hidden camera man pops out, you can all watch this. I can't. I heard myself say "good morning" on the video and started to freak out at the sound of my own voice and had to turn it off. I don't think i am meant to be on TV.
The world's overpopulated anyway...
I have come to a fairly disheartening realization today.
I have always said that I don't want kids, though i also always said i might change my mind later on if i got married to some wonderful, witty British man 15 years my senior. (I don't think we have to worry about that as a probable turn of events). However, in the past couple of weeks I have spent bits of time with various adorable, charming, interesting, children. Fascinating little people they are. For some reason, for the first time in...well..ever...i have decided that i actually DO want to have some babies of my own at some point. The children i saw just lit up the room, and their parents looked so happy, happier than i'd ever seen them. So just as this joyous life decision has been made, i come to realize that i should not ever have children. Or pets for that matter.
You see, i am not nearly a responsible enough person to be fully in charge of the health, happiness, and safety of another living creature. I just can't stomach it. Everyone says "oh you'd be surprised what you can do for you children." That may be. But i know i love my dog more than most humans or animals in the world. It's not a child, but it is similar in that if she's hurt she can't tell me why, and i have to know what to do and be able to do it.
Today i had to bring my dog to the vet. Generally one of parents does this because i get queasy around medicine, but today no one could but me. Turns out she has some sort of cyst that was infected. The doctor, a very nice man, took her to another room dealt with the issue and brought her back out to me, fresh wound and all. I wanted to throw up. I felt bad for her, but i wanted to throw up. I want to throw up right now thinking about it. These things are just not things i can deal with. It was, and is, terribly disgusting. We have since put one of those oft mocked cones around her head so she can't bother it. She has never looked sadder. For my schnauzer is proud. Prouder than most little white dogs in the world.
I think we may have broken her soul.
Now she may have to get this thing surgically removed. I can't make decisions like this. I can't go sit with her in the office when she goes under. I love her but i can't do these things. What if i had a kid? It's the same deal. If my kid has some disease where it is getting sick all over the place, i will literally not be able to deal with it because i will get sick. And a terrible chain reaction will occur. If my kid needs a needle, what i am going to do? hold it's hand, smile, and tell it when its over? no i will be freaking out in the corner because i can't look at needles.
This is ridiculous. I am ridiculous. But i know this won't change. I can't handle taking care of a dog on my own; how am i ever going to take care of a tiny human being? This is a bit upsetting to admit to myself now that i have decided i want kids, but i suppose the world is overpopulated anyway...
I have always said that I don't want kids, though i also always said i might change my mind later on if i got married to some wonderful, witty British man 15 years my senior. (I don't think we have to worry about that as a probable turn of events). However, in the past couple of weeks I have spent bits of time with various adorable, charming, interesting, children. Fascinating little people they are. For some reason, for the first time in...well..ever...i have decided that i actually DO want to have some babies of my own at some point. The children i saw just lit up the room, and their parents looked so happy, happier than i'd ever seen them. So just as this joyous life decision has been made, i come to realize that i should not ever have children. Or pets for that matter.
You see, i am not nearly a responsible enough person to be fully in charge of the health, happiness, and safety of another living creature. I just can't stomach it. Everyone says "oh you'd be surprised what you can do for you children." That may be. But i know i love my dog more than most humans or animals in the world. It's not a child, but it is similar in that if she's hurt she can't tell me why, and i have to know what to do and be able to do it.
Today i had to bring my dog to the vet. Generally one of parents does this because i get queasy around medicine, but today no one could but me. Turns out she has some sort of cyst that was infected. The doctor, a very nice man, took her to another room dealt with the issue and brought her back out to me, fresh wound and all. I wanted to throw up. I felt bad for her, but i wanted to throw up. I want to throw up right now thinking about it. These things are just not things i can deal with. It was, and is, terribly disgusting. We have since put one of those oft mocked cones around her head so she can't bother it. She has never looked sadder. For my schnauzer is proud. Prouder than most little white dogs in the world.
I think we may have broken her soul.
Now she may have to get this thing surgically removed. I can't make decisions like this. I can't go sit with her in the office when she goes under. I love her but i can't do these things. What if i had a kid? It's the same deal. If my kid has some disease where it is getting sick all over the place, i will literally not be able to deal with it because i will get sick. And a terrible chain reaction will occur. If my kid needs a needle, what i am going to do? hold it's hand, smile, and tell it when its over? no i will be freaking out in the corner because i can't look at needles.
This is ridiculous. I am ridiculous. But i know this won't change. I can't handle taking care of a dog on my own; how am i ever going to take care of a tiny human being? This is a bit upsetting to admit to myself now that i have decided i want kids, but i suppose the world is overpopulated anyway...
24.5.08
Telectroscope
Have you heard of the Telectroscope? It is a phenomenal site specific project completed by Paul St. George (a more British name could not be found) that has been installed in both London and New York. And it is the closest thing i can get right now to being in London.
The story the artist tells on the website, may or may not be true, but here is what i hav e read so far: It apparently all started with drawings by St George's grandfather depicting a tunnel system that would connect New York and London, two of the greatest cities in the world, using an optical device that would magnify each end. The end result would enable people in each country to see citizens of the other as they passed by and glanced into the lens. I believe his grandfather actually attempted to create this, but the ocean floor collapsed as they tried to tunnel. I am not sure how far they got, because i have not gotten a chance to read it all. I just got excited and wanted to share this before i forgot . :)
Near the Brooklyn Bridge there emerges from the ground a large brassy telescopic-looking device with a lens you can look straight into. Instead of simply seeing a reflection of your face, you can see the faces of Brits doing the same thing, for an identical structure is found near the Tower Bridge in London. It seems as though through a series of fiber optics, or some sort of crazy optical device, you can actually see the other end of the Telectroscope. Thus if you arranged a meeting time, you could theoretically communicate face to face with a friend across the world.
Yes, i know you can do this easily at home through a webcam. What's the big deal, you say? Infinitely greater than simple technology is the idea that you can see another country, another nation of people you have not met, and experience art and a moment of your day with them. Imagine looking at a painting; when someone ambles up next to you to look at the same work of art. Immediately an unacknowledged, probably undetected, connection is made between you and this person beside you. Now what if you have been incorporated into the art itself? You are not only sharing in a moment with this person because you are looking at art together; you are the art. This forces each person who looks into this Telectroscope to give 1, 5, maybe 15 minutes of their attention and their life, to someone they probably would have just callously bumped into on the street without so much as an apology. You are invited to partake in and enjoy a chance encounter with strangers from another part of the world.
This is the one of the greatest site specific works of art that i have heard of to date, though the slides in the Tate Modern were fun. It does exactly what art should do, in a very clever, fantastic (as in fantasy) way. If you live in London or in New York, take some time to open your eyes to the Telectroscope and see new people. Maybe you will make a friend.
Now then, any friends want to go with me to enjoy this before June 15th?
23.5.08
Lifetime.
I woke up yesterday wondering what time it was, having unpacked nothing due to a constant state of illness. Thus, i had no clock. I turned on my TV and at that moment discovered that i could tell you approximately what time of the morning it was judging by what was playing on Lifetime.
This made me want to shoot myself in the face.
By the way, it was 10:00 because an episode of the Golden Girls had just ended and Frasier was about to begin. I do like Frasier. And the Nanny. Which is why i have grown to know Lifetime's programming. Ew. And what's even worse is that any bit of the Golden Girls i catch just further convinces me that i will unfortunately depressingly grow up to be just like Dorothy Spornak. There's even an episode where she gets to be on Jeopardy, a life goal of hers. This is why i don't watch Golden Girls.
You cannot even begin to comprehend how awful this situation is. I had no reason to wake up at any particular time, which was lovely, but always makes me feel a bit useless. I used to be able to tell time almost to the minute when i worked at the farm; i don't know, maybe the sun's shadows or something, but now i can tell time immediately upon waking judging from television. and not even a good television station. no. LIFETIME. Home of excrutiatingly titled movies like "My husband left me, i have since misplaced my child, another person is trying to kill me, and i am going to cry a lot". I mean, really, if it was BBCAmerica that i knew so well, i would almost be ok with myself. Almost.
Telling time through Lifetime led me to the realization that if i do not do something productive immediately, my life will be a downward spiral from this point on. And when i say immediately, i mean 30 hours later, which is now. This is why i have decided to set up a blog for the summer. It may just be filled with crazy things that happen to me, because crazy things do. But it may also delineate my attempts to figure out what i want to do with myself. Or it may be recount stories that have occured this semester, that i just haven't gotten around to recording.
Whatever it is. it will mean less Lifetime. and more life time.
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