Well... Susan and I had actually missed the night train to Firenze last night because stupid me can not read military time! Soo frustrating. But it worked out better I think. We took a 6am train and transfered a couple of times and finally arrived at around 3pm... Whew! Along the way, this random guy told Susan that he loved her! We also met this cool italian guy who is into heavy metal and is part of the Italian Tolkien Society... interesting combo!
When we got to Firenze we realized the hotel was in the middle of nowhre! So far,but located in a beautiful old villa.. it is amazingly gorgeous.. Then we saw Michangeloàs David.. it was a beautiful sculpture, so full of life and detail.
Ok, this computer sucks! BYEEE!
Sunday, July 31, 2005
Saturday, July 30, 2005
Old Nice
We went to the Mediterrean Sea this morning and Old Nice in the afternoon. The sea was magnificent. I hve never been to a beach that had pebbles, huge pebbles rather than sand! It made the water become so incredibly clear. It was the most beautiful beach I have ever been to. Better than Hawaii... Myrtle Beach.. whatever. Nice had the best beach. One day I hope to take my bf there.. he would love it. After we baked in teh sun for a good time, and saw lots of topless women (how strange!) we went back to the hotel. Later that day we walked about 20 minutes to old Nice. Such a beautiful part of Nice! There were lots and lots of tiny streets, like a maze. And all we did was shop and look around. I bought a beautiful mozaic flower vase from the very same woman who made them.. I even used some bartering skills.. that are basically normally non-existent.. afterwards Susan got tired so she took a nap, while I had wine at a bar near the hotel. I had 3 whole glasses of wine for under 5 euros!! How cheap.. g ood wine too. I read my book at the time, so much fun.
Now we catch the night train to Florence!
Now we catch the night train to Florence!
Friday, July 29, 2005
Beautiful Exotic Nice
Susan and I arrived in Nice this morning around 8:15am via Eurorail's night train.. what an experience. I met an amazing woman from Argentina who has been backpacking for over 20 years... isn't that amazing??!! But, another story for another night. Today Susan adn I walked around the main shopping district in Nice France. Which is an absolutely beautiful and untouched by tourism city. I love it here. The way the buildings are so close together, the way the streets are narrow.. the people (although rude at times).. the wine.. (especially cheap house wine!!) It's all gorgeous. And Nice is set between mountains and the sea, making it have spectacular landscapes, and get photo opportunities! We bought a lot of jewelry from this boutique that had about a 2 hour wait!! Can you believe that?? To pass the time we walked around and mixed with the locals and ate good oranges and listened to street music.
I bet Americans would be so much more happier if we stepped outside of our houses and air conditioned cars and just simply interacted with each other.. tha'ts all!! Said hi every now and then and bumped and touched and sweated a bit! That's not too much to ask for...
But most of all, I truly miss my wonderful man...
I bet Americans would be so much more happier if we stepped outside of our houses and air conditioned cars and just simply interacted with each other.. tha'ts all!! Said hi every now and then and bumped and touched and sweated a bit! That's not too much to ask for...
But most of all, I truly miss my wonderful man...
Wednesday, July 27, 2005
Day 2 in Barcelona
Susan and I had our bike tour of Barcelona today. It was really nice and actually awesoe to be on a bike again! Afterwards we walked around teh Las Ramblas area and Plaza de Catalunya... we did an amazing amount of walking, considering we were wasted and hungover from teh night before.. gratis is NOT always so great! Especially if they don´t stop! Susan and I will go back to La Sagrada Familia tomorrow and check out more Gaudi sites along the way.. it was great
Oh! Today there was this HUGe crowd gathered in one area of Las Ramblas.. so we elbow our way to teh frnt and it turns out these two women were fighting because one of them broke the other´s eyeglasses.. how funny! There were SO many people gathered, all to see that..
Soon.. NICE!
Oh! Today there was this HUGe crowd gathered in one area of Las Ramblas.. so we elbow our way to teh frnt and it turns out these two women were fighting because one of them broke the other´s eyeglasses.. how funny! There were SO many people gathered, all to see that..
Soon.. NICE!
First Day
I came here in Barcelone the first day... and the hostel was acutally amazing.. it was right on the mediterraean seas... amaziung.. s san and ùi walked up and day the club district, kept getting free drinks.. meanwhile.. meaning weirdos and getting free drinks.. gratis anyone.. over here!!! it was fantastic.. tomorrow is our bike tour of barcelona.. I love traveling!
Monday, July 25, 2005
All set and ready to go!
I am all packed... this morning was pretty hectic because I had to run around and do a lot of last minute errands. In fact I was so hasseled that I forgot my ATM card in the machine at the bank! Thank God that I remembered to get it, and thank God even more that the bank had it... whew! I am going to blame it on the horrible thunderstorms earlier today. Either way I am all set to go.. complete with my neck tie thingy to store my passport in so that it never gets lost... or stolen! Off to Barcelona, Nice, Florence, and Rome. Can't wait! But I will miss those special people back here in the states! ;) See ya August 4th!
Sunday, July 24, 2005
Broken Woman
I have felt awful the last two days. In fact, I have felt so bad that my head feels like it's split into two.. I guess it can be summarized best as that both sides are absolutely frustrated wtih me and angry.. both want two completely different things... I know what I want and I know why I want it... Both say they love me.. but what the fuck.
Saturday, July 16, 2005
Values
Values is such a bullshit concept. Who's to say that your values are "better" or more right than someone else's.. for that matter, religion is bullshit too.. people are what matter. Not abstract concepts, but real people.. and it's as simple as that. Don't hurt people, consider everyone as equal and love them all.. there.. but people can't accept that.. they would rather have it so that their values impose on mine.. fuckers
Thursday, July 14, 2005
3rd Toastmaster's Speech: Civic Duties
Uncle Sam wants you. No, Uncle Sam needs you. Not to fight a war in Iraq. Not to fight for freedom in Afghanistan. Uncle Sam needs to you fight to maintain voters’ rights in the United States. I myself heard the message last fall. The political atmosphere was fully charged at Case because we were hosting the VP debates. Everyone was motivated, myself included. Thus, Nov 2nd 2004, I got out of bed around 5:30 in the morning. Pulled on my bright orange sweater and stepped out into the chilly rainy morning. I was on my way to become a poll worker for the presidential elections. Although I was apprehensive throughout the day, I was also filled with other emotions such as fatigue, boredom, and excitement. I left the polling location around 8 after the polls closed, exhausted and yet thoroughly amazed at the election process and the people I had met during the day. And now I am bringing the message to you of the immense need of qualified people to become poll workers.
Who here was satisfied with the last election? Whether you are democrat or republican, many would argue that the elections were not nearly as smooth as the elections of the past. Part of the reason why I decided to become a poll worker was the disgust I felt regarding the media circus and joke our election process had become in 2000. Words such as butterfly ballot and hanging-chads became every day language. Some states were red, others were blue! I was shocked to learn that some of Florida’s predominantly black counties even were accused of throwing away thousands of ballots! Trucks vanished instantly on highways. It was utter madness. Although, the situation did not better itself during the 2004 elections. In fact, it was a huge disappointment to me that 4 years after the 2000 embarrassment, we still could not get it right.
So what is the problem here? Some argue a conspiracy theory with corrupt voting systems that provide the results that the corporate executives want. Some point fingers towards the ancient Electoral College, (that no one apparently knew existed until the 2000 election). One huge source of the problem is the dire state of poll workers. Who are poll workers? Majority of the time, they are the grandfathers and grandmothers that greet you when you enter a polling location. They kindly ask you for your name; gently verify your mailing address; pleasantly ask you to sign by your name. What could be so dire about such a seemingly affable system? Well, according to USA Today, prior to the 2004 elections, there was a 1.5 million poll worker shortage! The average age of a poll worker was 72, plus the ability for majority of them to grasp new and developing polling technology was questionable. Not to mention the simple question of efficiency. During my poll working experience, we were held up two extra hours because of errors that arose when we were accounting for all of the ballots. In fact, one of the poll workers refused to help count after a while because he only wanted to go home. The situation was further compounded by bossy attitudes and frustrations. It may sound funny in hindsight, but these are the people in charge of making sure your vote counts. This is a major crisis. In fact, slowly but surely our voting rights are being challenged and undermined. Uncle Sam needs more people to become poll workers. Uncle Sam needs more people like us.
What is a poll worker? A poll worker can be anybody that is a registered voter who attends a 90 minute training session to go over the basic process and a 30 minute orientation the Monday before elections. And of course attendance the day of the polling event is mandatory. In fact, majority of us qualify in this room to be a poll worker! To provide further incentive, poll workers are compensated for their time. In Cuyahoga County we received $102.10 for our troubles. There are approximately 4 poll workers are each polling location (2 democrats and 2 republicans). They each are in charge of maintaining a station during the day to process the voters as they arrive to vote.
A person who is interested in becoming a poll worker can contact the Cuyahoga County Board of Elections. They can work during any and all elections, if they desire once they fill out the application forms. I myself had organized a core group of case students who were interested in becoming poll workers. I had a large enough group that the Board of Elections agreed to have a training session for us on campus. It truly is that easy to become a poll worker. In fact, everything is arranged for you! They just need you to sign up.
To further illustrate the dire need of poll workers, I will tell you a little more about my experience. We opened our doors around 6:30, by 9 am, the regular poll workers told me they had already processed more voters than the amount of voters that usually vote for elections. We were so filled to capacity that many were waiting in rain soaked lines up to 3 hours to vote. During that day, we processed approximately 500 provincial ballots. The ladies told me that there are usually only a small handful of those ballots. (on a side note, it was decided that all of Ohio’s provincial ballots were disqualified from counting) Later in the day we ran out of change of address forms, and the list of grievances continues long after that. Although Ohio still turned out to be a mess, I put my efforts in. I was frustrated with what I saw of the system, and saddened to think of all the ballots that were cast away. Although I was encouraged to know that perhaps my involvement help give more efficiency. Clearly the system needs reformation. Part of the change comes from media awareness and recognition of the problem. However, it is not enough to simply discuss the inefficiencies of the voting system as if some unfortunate part of our society. We all must become involved and use our civic duty to defend all of our rights’ to vote. Uncle Sam needs us here and now.
Who here was satisfied with the last election? Whether you are democrat or republican, many would argue that the elections were not nearly as smooth as the elections of the past. Part of the reason why I decided to become a poll worker was the disgust I felt regarding the media circus and joke our election process had become in 2000. Words such as butterfly ballot and hanging-chads became every day language. Some states were red, others were blue! I was shocked to learn that some of Florida’s predominantly black counties even were accused of throwing away thousands of ballots! Trucks vanished instantly on highways. It was utter madness. Although, the situation did not better itself during the 2004 elections. In fact, it was a huge disappointment to me that 4 years after the 2000 embarrassment, we still could not get it right.
So what is the problem here? Some argue a conspiracy theory with corrupt voting systems that provide the results that the corporate executives want. Some point fingers towards the ancient Electoral College, (that no one apparently knew existed until the 2000 election). One huge source of the problem is the dire state of poll workers. Who are poll workers? Majority of the time, they are the grandfathers and grandmothers that greet you when you enter a polling location. They kindly ask you for your name; gently verify your mailing address; pleasantly ask you to sign by your name. What could be so dire about such a seemingly affable system? Well, according to USA Today, prior to the 2004 elections, there was a 1.5 million poll worker shortage! The average age of a poll worker was 72, plus the ability for majority of them to grasp new and developing polling technology was questionable. Not to mention the simple question of efficiency. During my poll working experience, we were held up two extra hours because of errors that arose when we were accounting for all of the ballots. In fact, one of the poll workers refused to help count after a while because he only wanted to go home. The situation was further compounded by bossy attitudes and frustrations. It may sound funny in hindsight, but these are the people in charge of making sure your vote counts. This is a major crisis. In fact, slowly but surely our voting rights are being challenged and undermined. Uncle Sam needs more people to become poll workers. Uncle Sam needs more people like us.
What is a poll worker? A poll worker can be anybody that is a registered voter who attends a 90 minute training session to go over the basic process and a 30 minute orientation the Monday before elections. And of course attendance the day of the polling event is mandatory. In fact, majority of us qualify in this room to be a poll worker! To provide further incentive, poll workers are compensated for their time. In Cuyahoga County we received $102.10 for our troubles. There are approximately 4 poll workers are each polling location (2 democrats and 2 republicans). They each are in charge of maintaining a station during the day to process the voters as they arrive to vote.
A person who is interested in becoming a poll worker can contact the Cuyahoga County Board of Elections. They can work during any and all elections, if they desire once they fill out the application forms. I myself had organized a core group of case students who were interested in becoming poll workers. I had a large enough group that the Board of Elections agreed to have a training session for us on campus. It truly is that easy to become a poll worker. In fact, everything is arranged for you! They just need you to sign up.
To further illustrate the dire need of poll workers, I will tell you a little more about my experience. We opened our doors around 6:30, by 9 am, the regular poll workers told me they had already processed more voters than the amount of voters that usually vote for elections. We were so filled to capacity that many were waiting in rain soaked lines up to 3 hours to vote. During that day, we processed approximately 500 provincial ballots. The ladies told me that there are usually only a small handful of those ballots. (on a side note, it was decided that all of Ohio’s provincial ballots were disqualified from counting) Later in the day we ran out of change of address forms, and the list of grievances continues long after that. Although Ohio still turned out to be a mess, I put my efforts in. I was frustrated with what I saw of the system, and saddened to think of all the ballots that were cast away. Although I was encouraged to know that perhaps my involvement help give more efficiency. Clearly the system needs reformation. Part of the change comes from media awareness and recognition of the problem. However, it is not enough to simply discuss the inefficiencies of the voting system as if some unfortunate part of our society. We all must become involved and use our civic duty to defend all of our rights’ to vote. Uncle Sam needs us here and now.
Reflecting on London Attacks
Although it is true that the third world is attacked virtually every hour.. and that some areas live in constant crisis, ie Kashmir, Israel...etc.. and although it is true that many genocides are largely over looked, particularly when they concern minorities or those of color.. it is also true that the symbolic nature of attacks on the industrial world like the US and UK shock the world even more and captivate international attention quicker.
Although inherently an attack is an attack... regardless of where it occurs.. perhaps the US and UK attacks strike a deeper cord within us because it suggests that regardless of where you live in the world, no one is safe from terrorism. Prior 9/11, people knew Israel wasn't safe, but every one assumed that the US was safe.. and now there is virtually no corner in the world left for people to hope and aspire to feel safe.. People need that assurance that there is better out there. For example, many of the Holocaust victims hoped and prayed for the Allied Forces to save them.. and they came.. but now even that little bit of assurance is chipped away with every terrorist attack on the industrial world.
So, while it is easy to scoff at the international display of saddness over the London bombings, it is important to remember the symbolic nature of the tragedy and that the attacks not only took away lives, but is instilling a deeper level of fear and mania within us all.
Although inherently an attack is an attack... regardless of where it occurs.. perhaps the US and UK attacks strike a deeper cord within us because it suggests that regardless of where you live in the world, no one is safe from terrorism. Prior 9/11, people knew Israel wasn't safe, but every one assumed that the US was safe.. and now there is virtually no corner in the world left for people to hope and aspire to feel safe.. People need that assurance that there is better out there. For example, many of the Holocaust victims hoped and prayed for the Allied Forces to save them.. and they came.. but now even that little bit of assurance is chipped away with every terrorist attack on the industrial world.
So, while it is easy to scoff at the international display of saddness over the London bombings, it is important to remember the symbolic nature of the tragedy and that the attacks not only took away lives, but is instilling a deeper level of fear and mania within us all.
Wednesday, July 13, 2005
Me?? America's Next Top Model...?
Yesterday when I was walking to work, a man stopped me and asked if I had ever considered being a model... and I replied, yeah right, no! And he said that I should, especially because America's Next Top Model would be having auditions in town pretty soon.. and I told him, no.. they wouldn't take me, I am too short!
Little does that guy know, a few years ago, I went on their website and looked at the requirements to being a model. Tyra "claims" that she wants to extend the competition for anyone that may represent America... no weight restrictions, etc.. oh yeah, except for the side note that the girls should at least be 5'11''.... whoa baby! Guess I missed that boat... Tyra, you have false advertisement on your show! You don't want to open opportunities for ethnic minorities to become models! You just want tall skinny girls (with a tad more color than you can get tanning).. that's unfair discrimination against tiny indian girls! Shame on you!
Little does that guy know, a few years ago, I went on their website and looked at the requirements to being a model. Tyra "claims" that she wants to extend the competition for anyone that may represent America... no weight restrictions, etc.. oh yeah, except for the side note that the girls should at least be 5'11''.... whoa baby! Guess I missed that boat... Tyra, you have false advertisement on your show! You don't want to open opportunities for ethnic minorities to become models! You just want tall skinny girls (with a tad more color than you can get tanning).. that's unfair discrimination against tiny indian girls! Shame on you!
Tuesday, July 12, 2005
Interesting Phenomenon
I observed an interesting phenomenon when I was visiting St. Paul.. at the amusement park I realized that the ugliest guys were dating regular/hot girls. I couldn't understand it.. these guys were hideous, buck teeth, fat, hairy... etc! And they were all with every day looking girls.. skinny, atheletic... blonde.. so strange! Must be something in the water that makes the girls blind.. or else, there just isn't any better..
Saturday, July 09, 2005
WILD Night!
Last night was ridiculous here at the apartment building. First of all, it's so important to keep in mind that the place is sooo nice. You would look at it and think high society, I mean the building is amazing. You walk inside and it looks like a 5 star hotel! With pool tables, leather sofas, kitchen.. all in the lobby. Then of course is the awesome outdoor pool and hot tub.. you wouldn't think the residents would be wild or anything. Just rich conservative people...
But last night around 2 in the morning, I wake up hearing gun shots!! At least that's what I thought it was... I was about to run to the window to go and look, and my boyfriend's like, "You dummy! Don't run to the window if you hear gun shots!".. so I was like, good point.. and I went back to bed...
Then around 4 in the morning, I hear shouts and that wakes me up. This time I go look at the window, and there are 5 people (drunk as hell) sitting in the hot tub. 2 guys and 3 girls... drunk drunk drunk... they were yelling and shouting.. It was so funny to see them there, especially because the hot tub is supposed to be closed at night... but obviously they didn't care! We kept watching, and all of a sudden we realized that they were NAKED in the hot tub... nasty! One of the guys was even running around the pool deck and you could see his penis (tiny).. on top of that, he later put on one of the girl's bikini bottom.. I COULDN"T BELIEVE THIS! And I know that if they had woke me up, that I wasn't the only person. And there are a lot of families that live here with little kids, they could not have been happy about this... but where were the cops??!!!
So they were out there until about 5 am... and we're just hanging out, trying to go back to bed.. when we hear shouts and running down his hall way... a girl and guy were running down the hallway... naked.. chasing each other.. RIDICULOUS!!!
This place turns out to be a pretty wild place.....!
But last night around 2 in the morning, I wake up hearing gun shots!! At least that's what I thought it was... I was about to run to the window to go and look, and my boyfriend's like, "You dummy! Don't run to the window if you hear gun shots!".. so I was like, good point.. and I went back to bed...
Then around 4 in the morning, I hear shouts and that wakes me up. This time I go look at the window, and there are 5 people (drunk as hell) sitting in the hot tub. 2 guys and 3 girls... drunk drunk drunk... they were yelling and shouting.. It was so funny to see them there, especially because the hot tub is supposed to be closed at night... but obviously they didn't care! We kept watching, and all of a sudden we realized that they were NAKED in the hot tub... nasty! One of the guys was even running around the pool deck and you could see his penis (tiny).. on top of that, he later put on one of the girl's bikini bottom.. I COULDN"T BELIEVE THIS! And I know that if they had woke me up, that I wasn't the only person. And there are a lot of families that live here with little kids, they could not have been happy about this... but where were the cops??!!!
So they were out there until about 5 am... and we're just hanging out, trying to go back to bed.. when we hear shouts and running down his hall way... a girl and guy were running down the hallway... naked.. chasing each other.. RIDICULOUS!!!
This place turns out to be a pretty wild place.....!
Friday, July 08, 2005
Irony
Yesterday, London's subway system was bombed 4 times in a terrorist attack. Although only 50 people died, it still shocked the world just as much as the Madrid bombings, and served as a reminder that terrorism is alive and well... but that didn't stop the people of the Twin Cities from hanging out at a bar called Brit's!!! How ironic is it that London can get bombed, but people will still find the time to go to a British themed bar that same night.. and it was PACKED!! No walking room anywhere.. I bet that 9/11, there wasn't any American themed bar world-wide that had a steady stream of customers that day..
The bar was very cool though, I have to admit :) It was pompous and ritzy, just like you would imagine Britain to be.. just kidding! They even had a second floor that had a lawn where you could play Cricket! That's even more funny, watching Americans try to play Cricket! ;) It was packed though with older people, about 25-40 years old. I guess I fit in with the corporate interns, because most of the people seemed to be there with their co-workers. Although, it is always funny to see older women try to dress a little hoochie and start to flirt people. I don't think it's always becoming of their age to do so! :)
The bar was very cool though, I have to admit :) It was pompous and ritzy, just like you would imagine Britain to be.. just kidding! They even had a second floor that had a lawn where you could play Cricket! That's even more funny, watching Americans try to play Cricket! ;) It was packed though with older people, about 25-40 years old. I guess I fit in with the corporate interns, because most of the people seemed to be there with their co-workers. Although, it is always funny to see older women try to dress a little hoochie and start to flirt people. I don't think it's always becoming of their age to do so! :)
Wednesday, July 06, 2005
Caught 2 Fish!
Hey hey hey... look who's the champion now! I was a bit discouraged after my first fishing endeavor, after all I spent about 4 hours trying to catch anything, but this time around I caught two fish! Granted, they were both small fish, but that's ok. Now I feel like a real outdoors person catching all of the fish! I even know the lingo..
Yesterday I went for a walk and I passed by a placed called the Cupcake Cafe.. and I figured with a name like that, they would HAVE to have cupcakes.. and so I stepped inside, and sure enough! cupcakes! I had a Mad Cow, which was a little too rich for me actually.. it was a chocolate cupcake with vanilla cream cheese frosting.. a little too sweet. I should have cut it in half. After all, I am eating for half the normal size of people!
Yesterday I went for a walk and I passed by a placed called the Cupcake Cafe.. and I figured with a name like that, they would HAVE to have cupcakes.. and so I stepped inside, and sure enough! cupcakes! I had a Mad Cow, which was a little too rich for me actually.. it was a chocolate cupcake with vanilla cream cheese frosting.. a little too sweet. I should have cut it in half. After all, I am eating for half the normal size of people!
Friday, July 01, 2005
Stupid Me!
Yesterday I was on the plane going to Minneapolis and I looked out the window and I swear to God, I thought I saw a fighter jet outside of the window. It looked like one of those F-16s (something like that).. FLYING RIGHT NEXT TO THE WINDOW! It even looked like it was camoflagued. Oh my god! I was so freaked out. I even tapped the person next to me and showed her, and she was like, what is that thing??!!! And the closer and closer I looked, it started to resemble more a land mass.. and I said that the plane kind of looks like a land mass.. and then I realized I was looking at a small island in the middle of the Great Lakes.. stupid ass me!! Man did I feel like a fucking moron! Not only that, but I told the person sitting next to me.. she must have thought I was some kind of an idiot...
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