I forget, what decade are we in?

If you read the news headlines on CNN today, you see "Nooses, violence divide town" and "Swastikas burned into golf fairways". You have to be kidding me. I know in this day and age there has been a resurgence of ideas of hatred that happened back 40, 50, 60 yrs ago (just go to Barcelona too, where neighborhood signs say "we are anti-Skinhead here" or "Nazi-ism not welcomed here"), but with all the cultural diversity and immigration going on in this country and everywhere else, people can't disregard skin color or background and get to know a person and who they are on the inside? I am so sick of this. When I have kids someday, I am going to have them be friends with everyone. African-Americans, Hispanics, Muslims, disabled people, etc.

Is anyone not scared about this???? My friend said this today when I told her about my blog idea: "Amazing how we can come so far and yet not go anywhere at all". Excellent summary. :(

WHO THE HELL WROTE THIS

http://www.cnn.com/2007/TRAVEL/08/17/disappointing.destinations/index.html

This recent article named the top 10 best and most disappointing global and UK sights. I am more concerned with the global sights, so here they are (according to the article):

TOP TEN MOST DISAPPOINTING GLOBAL SIGHTS
1. The Eiffel Tower, Paris; 2. The Louvre, Paris; 3. Times Square, New York; 4. Las Ramblas, Barcelona; 5. Statue of Liberty, New York; 6. Spanish Steps, Rome; 7. The White House, Washington DC; 8. The Pyramids, Egypt; 9. The Brandenburg Gate, Berlin; 10.The Leaning Tower of Pisa.

THE PYRAMIDS ARE DISAPPOINTING???? WHAT???? SEEING HOW ENORMOUS THEY ARE, THE ABILITY OF PEOPLE TO BUILD THEM, GOING INSIDE THEM...... PEOPLE MUST BE INSANE TO SAY THIS! THE LOUVRE IS DISAPPOINTING???? WHAT???? SEEING THE MONA LISA, ANCIENT ISLAMIC TREASURES, ETC. IS NOT FUN???? LAS RAMBLAS IS DIASPPOINTING???? WHAT????

I AM HONESTLY MOST BAFFLED ABOUT THE PYRAMIDS.

Quote: Travel expert Felice Hardy explained why many tourists, often after spending inflated amounts on reaching and then viewing the most famous places, are left with a feeling of anti-climax. "It's easy to be swayed by brochures that opt for the mainstream and focus on clichéd tourist sights around the world," she said. "But many of them are overcrowded and disappointing."

WHATEVER. I am too miffed to even talk about this.

At least the article had enough sense to put Kapadokya and Lake Titicaca (which my mom went to and loved) on its 10 best.

TOP TEN BEST GLOBAL SIGHTS
1. The Treasury at Petra, Jordan; 2. The Grand Canal, Venice; 3. The Masai Mara, Kenya; 4. Sydney Harbour Bridge; 5. Taroko Gorge, Taiwan; 6. Kings Canyon, Northern Territory, Australia; 7. Cappadoccia caves, Turkey; 8. Lake Titicaca, Peru and Bolivia; 9. Cable Beach, Broome, Western Australia; 10. Jungfraujoch railway, Switzerland.

You know you are bored at work when...

... you look up the engagement and wedding announcements from your hometown online newspaper.

... you check your bank statement 3 times in a day. Logging in separately each time.

... you get excited when someone IMs you. Not that I wouldn't ordinarily, but even more so now.

... you send emails to people and hope they are bored too and respond right away. Especially coworkers bc you know they are bored too.

... you eat every hour at your desk.

... you look at the poster on your wall and study the topographical features of every country of the world.

... keep looking at your cell phone to see if someone has texted you. And the last time you checked was 8 minutes ago.

... you blog.

... you go to the bathroom even when you don't have to go.

... you start sorting out your email inbox. Oh, and outbox too.

Any other fun things?

Map

Map courtesy of http://www.seatreker.com/PNG/PAPUA%20NEW%20GUINEA.gif .

Map

Map courtesy of http://www.seatreker.com/PNG/PAPUA%20NEW%20GUINEA.gif .

Papua New Guinea

So I have been watching SHARK WEEK :) and last night was the best night: the show was called Shark Tribe. It's a native tribe of Papua New Guinea (I think on Buka Island-I forget the town names) that calls and captures sharks by hand (like the Lemon, Blacktip, Mako) by banging shells like rattles on the water's surface and under it. It was so amazing. The most amazing part was that the people on this remote island spoke English-even the elders (and the oldest living shark caller who is 70!). All through the episode, I was even distracted by thinking the whole time "Man, these people know English". And it's pretty good. :S

So the guy who went there (who has also hosted specials on Discovery like one where he was determined to be able to sit by a lion pride w/o them attacking... and he did it) and his friend a shark specialist and PhD student, also showed the shark callers a video of the Great Whites they study. The shark caller looked at it in awe and said yes I can capture that too. His confidence was really amazing! I know I am using amazing a lot, but it's the only word that fits.

Great episode-maybe I will put the DVD on my birthday present list. :)

Helping out with a baby for the weekend...

I went to visit my best friend in the whole world up in NC this past weekend, and it was SO great to spend time with her! We have only seen each other at Xmas for a couple hours or at my bridal shower, etc. and I felt the need to spend a few days with her and her son and husband. You only live once.......... We went around her town, to UNC-Chapel Hill and Duke, the NC Natural Science Museum in Raleigh, and a GREAT Mexican restaurant called El Dorado. It's ALMOST as good as Los-I would say close second! And that is saying a lot!

I also got to see first hand what it would be like to have kids right now, and honestly, I am not ready for that yet. hahaha It is SO much work... getting up with him at 6 AM, feeding, playing, putting him down for naps, bathing, car seats, strollers, high chairs, sippee cups, toys, crying (and laughing too!-he really is a happy kid :) ), diapers, stair gate things, protective things for the outlets, daily routines, etc. They are such good parents though, and I know I learned some things from the best: especially that I am not ready for this. hahahaha I was good for the weekend, but glad that I could just go home after work and chill out or go anywhere I wanted or wake up when I wanted. Maybe in 4 yrs I will change my mind. ;) Well, I have to change my mind bc we already planned to take trips so our kids can play together!

UGH

I am so sick of lazy and irresponsible people. "Oh I forgot" (when I reminded them every day). "Oh your paperwork got messed up". "We fixed your leak" (for the second time, and now there's no hot water). "Oh I didn't know that" (could have looked it up on the internet and it takes 5 min.). Can no one do anything right anymore? Do your jobs! I sound bitter, but it's not just me who has been saying this. Friends, family, other people have been complaining about people too. I am just speaking for them. ;)

A very very very good friend of mine (one of my best in Tallahassee) passed away a week ago. It's been a hard week......................

Turkiye is (and will be) sizzling!

According to accuweather.com:

Thursday, Jun 28
More Details
Sizzling sunshine and very hot. Winds from the N at 9 km/h.
Realfeel®: 46 °C
High: 38 °C

Or, in the US system:

Thursday, Jun 28
More Details
Sizzling sunshine and very hot. Winds from the N at 6 mph.
Realfeel®: 115 °F
High: 102 °F

Garage sale mania/UK politics

I was out of town this weekend, and my friend had a garage sale. She made a TON of money there!! But, that is not the reason for the post. The reason I am writing, as usual, is to say WHAT IS WRONG WITH PEOPLE? First, the sale started at 8 AM. Guy shows up at 7 asking what she will be selling, when it starts, etc. She has to say to him 3 times to come back at 8 (as the article in the paper said). Then at 757, a FLOOD of people come. I guess they are part of a big neighborhood area garage sale interest group. By 930, half of the stuff was gone. My friend had a pair of pants on sale that she had gotten her husband at a warehouse for over $100 and was asking $2 for them. $2. The lady that wanted to buy them said I'll give you a dollar. (Are you kidding?) My friend said no, and the lady says (in a really nasty tone): "WELL, this IS a garage sale after all" and walks away without buying them. Talk about cheap! Then, a guy was buying $2 worth of stuff (VHS tapes, etc.) and said I'll give you $1.50 for everything. WHAT DIFFERENCE IS 50 CENTS?? At that point, my friend was so pissed that she said fine. But really. Trying to negotiate at a garage sale? Isn't there any protocol for that?!

On another note, Tony Blair is gone. I am really wondering what UK politics will be like with Gordon Brown as prime minister.........................

Tally food establishments

What is going on in this city??

1. For the first day of summer, Bruegger's Bagels is having a snow celebration with fake snow, snow angels, iced coffee, snowmen, etc. If only people here knew how awful snow is! Some people haven't even seen snow before! And why would you want to ruin the first day of summer by thinking about it? Apparently it was so crazy that it made the newspaper in Syracuse too.

2. I went to Subway and on the receipt it said "Subway for the Glory of God" as the name of the restaurant. I have talked about this so much over the last day that I don't even know what to say about it anymore. Other than I am STILL dumbfounded.

Age of Love

**Disclaimer: I am only watching this show b/c Mark Philippoussis is a tennis player. I usually hate reality tv (except Real World and the reunions/challenges).

So does it make me old that I am hoping he picks a 40-something and that the 20-somethings are just SOOOOOOOOO annoying???? Go older women!! They look absolutely amazing!!

Miss Manners

I write a lot about manners and basic courtesy because I think people don't have them anymore. Well, today I was proved wrong. I was getting into the elevator after lunch and a guy was already going up and the door was about to shut. I said "don't worry about it" but he stuck his hand inbetween the doors and said "oh, I have a chemical in this bottle and it might smell so I didn't want you to get in and have to smell it. I just didn't want you to think I was being rude [by not keeping the doors open so I could get in]". Wow. So, again, he opened the doors just to say that he was going to close them and didn't want me to think he was being rude by not letting me in.

(Then I got into the other elevator and a lady got out and the elevator smelled like fart, so maybe I should have been in the original one hahahahaha).

Just thought that was nice. (The first part, not the fart).

International current events

Two things have left me disheartened (it's another list-I like to make lists for my blog):

1. The blasts to Sunni mosques in Samarra, Iraq have made me sick to my stomach. Literally. These are HUNDREDS of years old. The Al-Askariya Mosque has now lost its minarets from this attack, and its dome back in 2006. When I heard this news, I felt sick and nauseous. It's just so sad. It was built in the 900s! According to Wikipedia, Al-`Askarī or the `Askariyya Mosque/Shrine (Arabic: مرقد الامامين علي الهادي والحسن العسكري; transliterated: Marqad al-Imāmayn `Alī l-Hādī wa l-Ħassan al-`Askarī) is a Shī`a Muslim holy site located in the Iraqi city of Samarra 60 miles from Baghdad. It is one of the most important Shī`ite mosques in the world, built in 944.[1] Its dome was destroyed in February 2006 (see al-`Askarī Mosque Bombing).
The remains of the tenth and eleventh Shī`a Imāms, `Alī l-Hādī and his son Hassan al-`Askarī, known as "the two `Askarīs" (al-`Askariyyān), rest at the shrine.[2] It stands adjacent to a shrine to the Twelfth or "Hidden" Imām, Muħammad al-Mahdī. The `Askariyya Shrine is also known as the "Tomb or Mausoleum of the Two Imāms", "the Tomb of Imāms `Alī l-Hādī and Hassan al-`Askarī" and al-Hadhratu l-`Askariyya.
Also buried within the Mosque are the remains of Hakimah Khatun, sister of `Alī l-Hādī, and of Narjis Khatun, mother of Muħammad al-Mahdi.[3]

2. FIFA decided last month to prohibit international tournaments and World Cup qualifying matches above 8,200 feet (2,500 meters). That rules out the capitals of Bolivia, Colombia, Ecuador and the stadiums of leading teams in Peru, Chile and Mexico. (La Paz is the world's highest capital BTW). In protest, Evo Morales of Bolivia and some of his staff played soccer at above 19,000 feet and said they were fine. Here is the rest of the article: http://www.cnn.com/2007/WORLD/americas/06/13/bolivia.football.ap/index.html Totally unbelievable and NOT FAIR!! It's not their fault that their cities are high. They still want to host international soccer events! Players will be fine.

Being foreign is my dream...

... and I think I have come as close to that as possible. :) Especially because the other day when I was walking down the hall to work, my coworker says "it's the girl from Ipanema" and I said WHAT?! and she said yeah, I didn't recognize you because you looked foreign. Mission accomplisted!! I went nuts! I told her that was the greatest compliment she could have ever given me. Really the greatest compliment ANYONE can give me would be to say something like that. Like in Turkiye when everyone said I look Turkish... and the airline stewardesses spoke to me in Turkce!

Just some things

1. I wish immigration didn't take so long. :(
2. I am SICK OF PARIS!!
3. All these blasts from the past this year-Baby Jessica is back, new things about Princess Di. I still remember back in 1997 right when I arrived in Madrid at my host family's house, the first time I saw my host mom she was watching her funeral. Later that fall I went to Paris and flowers were still fresh (put there by mourners) at the place where she died.
4. Yesterday at the French Open, the tennis players could speak multiple languages. Of course they could-they are not from the US. Nadal knows Spanish, English, and probably others; "Guga" (Kuerten) knows French, English, Portuguese, and probably Spanish; Federer speaks French, English, German, and probably others. *sigh* Why can't we all be like them?? Even the commentators (McEnroe, Carillo, and the other guy who I can never remember) said it puts Americans to shame. DUH.
5. This morning I had a little panic attack-I woke up and my boncuk necklace from Turkiye was missing from my neck. I said OH NO what if I lost it in the pool, while playing kickball yesterday, or somewhere else ...... After investigating, I saw the chain on the strap of my PJs, but the charm was nowhere in sight. Then I panicked less because I knew the charm had to be in my apt. somewhere. I tore off all the blankets and shook them, looked under the couch cushions, on the table, then finally in my gym bag. Phew-I heard the "tink" and the charm fell out. Relief!!!!!!!!! I would have cried!! I guess it got there by falling into the bag as I was getting something out of my purse this morning.

Why I take time with friends and call and email and everything else..... :)

The Hug Drug
Friends are just as effective as Prozac.
By PsychologyToday.com

It just may be that no drug is more effective than a good, meaningful chat. A British study has demonstrated the healing power of friendship. A group of chronically depressed women living in London were randomly assigned to receive a volunteer "befriender" or were placed on a waiting list for one. The befrienders were instructed to be confidants to the depressed women, meeting them regularly for chats over coffee or outings.

Tirril Harris, of Guy's, King's and St. Thomas' schools of medicine in London reports that among the women who saw their volunteer friends regularly throughout the year, 72 percent experienced a remission in depression compared with just 45 percent in the control group. That's about the same success rate as antidepressants or cognitive therapy, says Harris.

The women who benefited most from the friendship prescription typically experienced some kind of "fresh start": they reconnected or made amends with a person who was estranged from them, or left an unpleasant job for another that seemed more promising.
In one case, Janet, a depressed woman who took part in the study, had been working overtime for no extra pay. Her befriender pointed out that this was unfair and suggested she ask for compensation. Janet approached her boss, who was "amenable and apologetic," Harris recalls. "These types of experiences—an acknowledgment of respect—made the formerly depressed women feel differently about themselves and about the world."

:)

http://health.msn.com/centers/depression/articlepage.aspx?cp-documentid=100161793&GT1=10102

How do I do it??

How is it that I have been to Costa Rica 6 times now, and still managed to take 355 fotos this time?? Oh well-they are still great. Unreal pics of the sunrise over the Caribbean. :)

Sneaky

So at Curves, sometimes it gets way too hot in there, and the ladies that are working out go to the thermostat and turn it down w/o the Curves workers knowing it. Well, apparently they knew what was going on, and when we went to work out yesterday, the thermostat was covered by a locked box. LOL I laughed so hard. One of the ladies I go with pointed it out to me and I could not breathe from laughing. hahahahaha I am still laughing! I can't stop! Maybe I will take a picture and put it up sometime.

Weight

I weighed myself at Curves yesterday and since I started Curves, I have lost 14 lbs. :)

A camel kills someone in Florida?

Well, since I have been away for a while, I haven't heard a lot of the news stories around here. Work was just ending today, and one of my coworkers came in and said did you hear about the camel that killed a woman on her farm (I don't remember how we got on the subject... maybe because I start blasting Arabic music in my office at approx. 440 PM every day)? This happened to be in the same town another coworker is from, tiny little Wewahitchka, FL, and she ended up knowing the woman. If you have ever been near or on a camel, you will know that this death could not have been pretty. It's really sad.

It even made the LA Times too:

Fla. Woman Dies After Camel Sits on Her
By Associated Press6:46 PM PDT, April 24, 2007
WEWAHITCHKA, Fla. -- An owner of an exotic animal farm has died after being kicked and then sat on by a camel. Cathie Ake and the 4-year-old camel were being filmed by a local television station on Sunday when the camel kicked her and then sat down during a break in filming.The station was doing a story on Mini-Akers Exotic Animals, the 15-acre farm Ake owned with her husband.Cathie Ake's husband, Donnie Ake, said he would find a new home for Polo, the camel, The News Herald of Panama City reported Tuesday. He believes the 1,800-pound animal was agitated by mating season.The couple bought the camel at an auction three weeks ago and kept him in a 50 foot by 80 foot pen."My wife did a lot of rescue," Donnie Ake said. "She wouldn't let an animal suffer."We might not have food in the house, but she made sure they had something to eat."A reporter called 9-1-1 when Ake fell under the camel."To be honest with you, I don't think there's much that she could have done," said Gulf County Sheriff Dalton Upchurch.A deputy and paramedics moved the camel and recovered Cathie Ake's body.Donnie Ake said he believes his wife either suffocated or was crushed by the animal. The Akes started their exotic animal farm nearly 10 years ago.

http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/wire/sns-ap-camel-death,1,896120.story?coll=sns-ap-nation-headlines

:(

Discovery Channel is amazing

So if you have not been watching the mini-series on Discovery called Planet Earth (made in cooperation with the BBC b/c you know the Brits are smarter and better than we are!-that's the truth-I am not making fun of them), you are really missing out. Just the opening makes me have goosebumps! The music together with the various habitats and animals around the world... it's spectacular.

It's an 11 part series filmed in over 200 locations over 5 years. Wow. Animals and places no one has ever seen or visited. Chacma Baboons wandering through flooded water in Botswana which I have NEVER seen before, lions attacking and killing an elephant, tiny little Pygmy Seahorses only a 1/2 inch long in the Indo-Pacific seas, wild yaks, birds dancing, Bactrian camels in the Gobi.... it's awesome!!

I especially love it because it bounces around the world and each episode focuses on a particular habitat. :)

www.planet-earth.com GO TO IT!! I love the Earth! I want the DVD.

Also watch Deadliest Catch Tuesdays at 9 on Discovery. It showcases the most dangerous job on Earth in my opinion: King Crab hunting off the Bering Sea. There are 5 fishing boats with captains, deck bosses, etc. and it goes through the crab season and weather, personal conflicts, boat breakdowns, and other things they have to endure.

This world makes no sense

A Zamboni is a VEHICLE, no? And he was drinking, NO? Isn't that DRUNK DRIVING?


No drunk driving charge for Zamboni operator
N.J. judge rules that ice rink-grooming machines aren’t motor vehicles

Updated: 11:24 a.m. ET April 3, 2007

NEWARK, N.J. - It’s not drunken driving in New Jersey if it involves a Zamboni.
A judge ruled the four-ton ice rink-grooming machines aren’t motor vehicles because they aren’t useable on highways and can’t carry passengers.
Zamboni operator John Peragallo had been charged with drunken driving in 2005 after a fellow employee at the Mennen Sports Arena in Morristown told police the machine was speeding and nearly crashed into the boards.

Police said Peragallo’s blood alcohol level was 0.12 percent. A level of 0.08 is considered legally drunk in New Jersey.
Peragallo appealed, and Superior Court Judge Joseph Falcone on Monday overturned his license revocation and penalties.
“It’s a vindication for my client,” Peragallo attorney James Porfido said after the hearing. “It’s the right decision.”

Morris County Assistant Prosecutor Joseph D’Onofrio said no decision had been made on whether to appeal.
Peragallo, 64, testified at his trial that he did drink beer and vodka, but not until after he had groomed the ice. However, he told police he had a shot of Sambuca with his breakfast coffee and two Valium pills before work.

© 2007 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/17930215/?GT1=9246

YEA!!!!!!!!!!!!

THANK GOD APRIL IS FINALLY HERE!!!! That means not very long until my wedding!! :) <3

Girls

I just don't understand them sometimes. And I AM one. Go figure. Why aren't they happy with a man who treats them right?? And who is nice, smart, funny, has a good family and nice friends...?? Why don't they want to keep him?? Help me understand.

Happy (half) birthday to me!

Today I turn 29 1/2. That means only 6 months left in my 20s..... but I have a feeling that my 30s will be amazing. :)

"Special delivery"

No, not a baby. hahaha Well actually, close.

I was reading the Smithsonian's website and found this fascinating: little kids used to be SHIPPED in the mail back near the year 1900. Yes, shipped in the mail.

"Through snow, rain, gloom of night and...diapers?"

"This anonymous c. 1900 photograph from the Smithsonian's National Postal Museum spoofs the idea of sending a youngster through the mail, but the scenario wasn't that far-fetched. In 1914, a 2-year-old boy was sent via Parcel Post from Oklahoma to Kansas (postage paid: 18 cents), and the service delivered at least two other children before it officially barred the mailing of human beings later that year."

To see the pic go to http://www.smithsonianmag.com/issues/2006/november/around_the_mall.php#1 .

NIT HERE I COME!

Guess who is boycotting the NCAA tournament? Me. Guess why? Syracuse did not make it. So, I have absolutely no interest in the tournament, any games played, the Final Four, the championship, or anything.

Instead, I will be watching intently for SU and also FSU to make it far into the NIT later rounds. Go 'Cuse and 'Noles!!

My play

I was at a conference this week, and the guest speaker was talking about a lot of different things, including how important people are in your life. He was saying that life is one big play, and that people audition to get a role and be in your life. I liked that. I started to think of how people have come and gone in my life, and if they are gone, I guess they didn't win the role. I can think of so many people that would be in the running for the Academy Award for best actor, actress, supporting actor and actress in my life. Best picture? Hum. There are a lot of events/contenders for that too. Best screenplay? Best musical score? Best costume? Best director? Producer? Foreign film? (Now THAT would be a good one). Animation? Maybe I should write some of this in my storybook. :)

"Growing Pains"

As kids, we all know that everyone watched "Growing Pains" and all those sitcoms (of course my favorite was and is "Family Ties"... which NEVER shows on Nick at Nite or ION or TVLand or any of those, but that's another story). Well I have been watching GP reruns for a while and suddenly I realized some things that I never realized when I was little:

1. I talk like Carol. The accent... the "A"s are SO New York/northeast US.
2. Jason Seaver is a douchebag. Why did Maggie marry him? At times he is so pompous!
3. Kirk Cameron is not cute. I should have stuck to my original plan and liked Ralph Macchio more b/c he looks more foreign/dark than Kirk does.
4. Carol used to be my favorite character, but now it's Ben. He's the comic relief.
5. I didn't realize Carol had so many boyfriends-I thought she was a "geek" the whole time. Her football captain boyfriend Bobby-I totally forgot about him. And he's cute too!

Guess that's it for now. Anyone want to help me get FT rerun again?

What the h*ll is this sh*t????

Anger over NY 'immigration game'

A Republican student group in New York has sparked claims of racism by organising a game called "Find the Illegal Immigrant".

Students will act as immigration officers in Thursday's game and try to find a student in a crowd designated with a badge as the illegal immigrant.
The game has sparked protests from other students with hundreds planning to demonstrate against it.
The New York University College Republican club denied it was racist.
It says the game is intended to raise awareness on immigration issues in the United States.
The winner of the game will take home a gift certificate.
Picketing
The game is scheduled for New York's Washington Square Park.
College Republican campaign chairman David Laska told the New York Daily News: "Is it politically correct? No. But is it racist? Absolutely not.
"You have to do something like this to get people's attention."
College Republican President Sarah Chambers added: "Just because we don't want illegal immigrants being able to completely disregard the laws of our country doesn't make us racist."
The Daily News said up to 600 students were expected to protest.
One message on the website where details of the game were given read: "Let's not be lazy; instead, let's be just as organised as they are and bring out as many protesters as possible. Bring banners, voice boxes, picket signs."
Illegal immigration has remained a key issue at all levels of society.

Story from BBC NEWS:http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/2/hi/americas/6387183.stmPublished: 2007/02/22 17:21:53 GMT© BBC MMVII

http://newsvote.bbc.co.uk/mpapps/pagetools/print/news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/6387183.stm

Always an adventure on the bus and the mall

On the bus to the mall this girl got on, and she had a big stain on the back of her pants right where her butt is. It was either red or brown... I didn't want to look closely at all, but I thought to myself, didn't you see this before you put them on?? Or, don't you check?? BLECH.

Then at Wendy's, I got my meal for free somehow. I had $1 off card (Curves promo), and handed the card to the cashier, and said "this is supposed to be $1 off" and he said "oh okay" and called the manager over and zeroed out the entire order I gave him. Then he said "it will be up in a minute" and I said "um okay thanks" and waited for my order on the side of the counter. That was great-I guess he didn't hear me right. He didn't even scan the card, so I STILL have $1 off when I go again!

I love when stuff like that happens.

Ricky in the news :)

Ricky Martin defends anti-Bush gesture
POSTED: 12:15 p.m. EST, February 16, 2007

SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico (AP) -- Ricky Martin, who was a headliner at the 2001 inauguration ball for President George W. Bush, has a message for the American commander in chief about war.
At a recent concert, the 35-year-old singer stuck up his middle finger when he sang the president's name in his song "Asignatura Pendiente," which includes the words, "a photo with Bush." The gesture last Friday prompted cheers from thousands of fans in the San Juan stadium.
On Thursday, the Puerto Rican heartthrob repeated his criticism of the Iraq war and explained his changed position on Bush.
"My convictions of peace and life go beyond any government and political agenda and as long as I have a voice onstage and offstage, I will always condemn war and those who promulgate it," Martin said about his action in an e-mail statement sent to The Associated Press via a spokesman.
Martin, like other artists, has been highly critical of the war in Iraq.
Best known to international audiences for his smash hit "Livin' la Vida Loca," Martin is a huge star in Puerto Rico, where symbols of national identity -- such as the Puerto Rican flag and anthem -- are widely adored, and residents have complicated feelings about Washington.
The United States seized Puerto Rico in 1898 at the end of the Spanish-American War.
Puerto Rico's 4 million people are U.S. citizens and can be drafted into the military but cannot vote for president and have no voting representation in Congress. They also do not pay federal taxes.
Copyright 2007 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

http://www.cnn.com/2007/SHOWBIZ/Music/02/16/people.rickymartin.ap/index.html

HYPERVENTILATING and trying not to throw something

Link: http://www.cnn.com/2007/WORLD/europe/02/08/gaudi.vandals.reut/index.html

Vandals attack Gaudi's dragon

POSTED: 7:05 a.m. EST, February 8, 2007

MADRID, Spain (Reuters) -- Vandals have attacked a mosaic-covered dragon statue by Spanish artist Antoni Gaudi in Barcelona's Guell Park with an iron bar, damaging the head and torso, police said on Thursday.
Locals said a group of youths dressed as punks attacked the statue on Tuesday evening, police said.
Police have arrested a 22-year-old man on suspicion of damaging the historic monument, which lies at the entrance to the park.
The park is a UNESCO World Heritage site crammed with benches and walkways designed by Gaudi.
Built at the start of the 20th century, it was one of the first sites where Gaudi used his signature "trencadis" method of covering curved surfaces with tiny pieces of smashed, multi-coloured ceramics.
Copyright 2007 Reuters. All rights reserved.This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.


HERE ARE SOME PICS OF PARK GUELL FROM WHEN I WAS THERE IN 2005 (in the 4th pic, the dragon is right behind the circular disk you see):

Errand weekend

JCPenney had a crazy sale Saturday-75% off everything.... so I got boots marked down from $70 to $17. :P And a few other things.

So with the Super Bowl-glad Peyton finally silenced his critics! And what is with the thousand Coke commercials? Don't enough people around the world know what it is and drink it that Coke doesn't need to promote it anymore? Obviously in the business world and for money reasons, they should have new creative advertising to compete... yadda yadda, but really. It's so dumb. Spend that money on kids that are starving. Or Darfur. Or cancer research. Or a million other things.

The Noles won too-AT DUKE!.. by one point, but still it's a W on the schedule!

A couple things to ponder

1. I was watching 60 Minutes on Sunday, and one story was on messy desks at the workplace. If I remember right (which I think I do), workers with messy desks (as opposed to neat and clean) were 36% more effective at their jobs. I am trying to find the story on their website, but I can't right now. I have a messy desk (and apartment!), and people laugh at me all the time, but now there may be something good about it. I always knew that, but now I have proof. And wasn't it Einstein that said if someone is messy they are smarter? ;)

2. I think my Spanish is slipping.... but not much of course. I just speak Turkish so much now that I feel like my mind is so mixed and jumbled... today I went to the Costa Rican welcome dinner for the group that is in Tally for 2 weeks, and when I went to say "si", it almost came out as "evet". It took me half a second to realize "oh wait, SPEAK SPANISH IDIOT!". I don't know what that means, but it's good that my brain is working that much I guess. :P

Why can't we do this in Mexico? I'LL GO!!

EU to start African job centers to promote legal migration
POSTED: 10:02 a.m. EST, January 25, 2007

BRUSSELS, Belgium (Reuters) -- The European Union will open the first job center for legal migrant workers from Africa next month, the EU's justice chief said on Thursday, while appealing to EU states to provide resources to combat illegal immigration.
The experimental center in Mali would be the first of a planned network aimed at matching the supply of legal migrant labor for low-skill sectors such as agriculture, public works and tourism to demand in EU states, Franco Frattini said.
"People can have guaranteed periods of work and illegal undeclared labor will be combated in a very stringent way," Frattini told a European Parliament committee.
"We want migrants to come here legally then go back to their countries of origin when their contracts have ended," the EU commissioner for home affairs and justice said.
The centers are part of an EU drive in 2007 to control a big surge in illegal migration to Europe while meeting a need for low-skilled labor. It also seeks to increase jobs in Africa by promoting investment in labor-intensive sectors there.
The legal migration effort required EU states to declare quotas for the migrant workers they needed, Frattini said, adding he hoped for progress in ministerial talks next month.

Thousands of Africans die trying to get into Europe
The EU has been struggling to contain illegal migration to Europe by Africans searching for jobs and a better life.
More than 31,000 sub-Saharan migrants reached Spain's Canary Islands last year, six times as many as in 2005. Malta and Italy faced similar problems. Thousands of would-be migrants are believed to have died during their perilous journey.
The executive European Commission sees quotas as leverage to persuade African countries to take back illegal migrants.
Some EU states are wary of such a system, but Frattini said that in ministerial talks this month in Dresden, EU states showed a "concrete availability ... to give us the political leverage to negotiate, so I have some hopes".
He said he could not say how many migrants might be involved in the legal scheme. "In my own country, we talk about 400,000 people -- that's for Italy," he said. "But I don't know how many migrants are expected in Germany or in Belgium and so on."
He called on the 27 EU states to announce by a mid-February ministerial meeting how many boats and helicopters they would provide to help the fledgling EU border agency Frontex.
"I strongly hope that ministers will respond in a very positive way," he said. "If not, a blaming and shaming exercise will be possible in this case."
"If we wait until next summer, I think there will be problems ... We will go into the summer completely unprepared."
Frattini said Frontex was currently a tiny operation with just 60 members of staff. "We do need more resources that need to be provided by the member states."
Copyright 2007 Reuters. All rights reserved.This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

Here is the link: http://www.cnn.com/2007/WORLD/africa/01/25/africa.EU.reut/index.html

More annoyances

1. When people are getting onto a bus, I hate when they don't wait for people to get off FIRST before they get on. Then it creates havoc.

2. Some people think my last name is my first. Easily screwed up? I don't think so-even my email has my names in order on it.

3. When people walk on the wrong side of the stairs, hallway, sidewalk, etc. Walk on the RIGHT!
3a. When people see friends or whoever and stand in the middle of the stairs or hallway or sidewalk and keep their conversation going. Another hallway/staircase/sidewalk, etc. traffic jam.

Wow, a lot of these have to do with transportation issues.

Pet peeves

As I was riding the bus home today, I was thinking of things that annoy me. Here are some:

1. Sneakers + khakis
2. People that sit on the bus on the OUTSIDE seat, as if they are too good to have someone sit next to them. They hog the entire row, and then the person who needs a sit b/c all the rest are taken feels bad that they have to "inconvenience" the outside sitter, when really the outside sitter should have anticipated the move they would have to make.
3. People that say they will do something and don't do it. Don't promise if you won't be able to deliver!
4. When people are trying to speak to someone that speaks a different language, and that person isn't seeming to understand, the other person speaks LOUDER. As if that will help! Speak SLOWER, not louder. Sheesh.
5. People that talk on their cell phones at the gym. While running. Can you not take a break for an hour?
6. People who let their dogs poop everywhere and don't bother to clean it up.

I have to go to dinner, but those are just the beginning. :P

Crazy?

So I set my alarm today for 430 AM. Why? TENNIS. The Aussie Open. The time difference is rough, but I do it every year. (Askim, hope you are ready for that hahaha). : * Roddick was playing Safin, who is one of my favorite players. I fell asleep and woke back up at 530 and watched the match until I had to take a shower. I was mad b/c I missed the end of the 4th set... Roddick won, which makes me happy too b/c I have liked him since he started (but I still love Safin). Plus the Connors/Roddick duo is awesome. It was raining at one point during the match, and the roof had to be closed. Safin complained that the court was too wet to play (especially the slippery lines), but the chair umpire (one that umps a lot) said you still have to play. I sided with Safin-what if he fell and twisted his ankle just b/c they wouldn't dry the court? Stupid. Safin got warned b/c he swore, but I don't think anyone cared b/c that is the way he is.

Federer will still win the Open, and win his 10th grand slam title. 4 away to tie Sampras! I can't believe I am priviliged enough to be watching one of the all-time greats in the making!

On the women's side, I am hoping for Clijsters before she retires after this year, but I think it may be Mauresmo or Serena. Hingis would be great too. I would love to see her win.

Why I love languages

Being bilingual can delay onset of dementia
Study: Keeping parts of brain active can stave off Alzheimer's up to 4 years

Updated: 2:52 a.m. ET Jan 14, 2007

OTTAWA, Canada - People who are fully bilingual and speak both languages every day for most of their lives can delay the onset of dementia by up to four years compared with those who only know one language, Canadian scientists said Friday.

Researchers said the extra effort involved in using more than one language appeared to boost blood supply to the brain and ensure nerve connections remained healthy — two factors thought to help fight off dementia. “We are pretty dazzled by the results,” Professor Ellen Bialystok of Toronto’s York University said in a statement.

“In the process of using ... two languages, you are engaging parts of your brain, parts of your mind that are active and need that kind of constant exercise and activity, and with that experience (it) stays more robust,” she later told CTV television. The leading cause of dementia among the elderly is Alzheimer’s disease, which gradually destroys a person’s memory. There is no known cure.

Bialystok’s team focused on 184 elderly patients with signs of dementia who attended a Toronto memory clinic between 2002 and 2005. Of the group, 91 spoke only one language while 93 were bilingual. “The researchers determined that the mean age of onset of dementia symptoms in the monolingual group was 71.4 years, while the bilingual group was 75.5 years,” the statement said.
“This difference remained even after considering the possible effect of cultural differences, immigration, formal education, employment and even gender as (influences) in the results,” it added.

Delays but does not prevent dementiaBialystok stressed that bilingualism helped delay the start of dementia rather than preventing it altogether. Psychologist Fergus Craik, another member of the team, said the data showed that being fully bilingual had “a huge protective effect” against the onset of dementia but he added that the study was still a preliminary finding. The team plans more research into the beneficial side-effects of bilingualism.

The Alzheimer Society of Canada described the report as exciting and said it confirmed recent studies that showed that keeping the brain active was a good way to delay the impact of dementia. “Anything that staves off the time when the risk factor (for dementia) overcomes the defenses is wonderful news,” scientific director Jack Diamond told Reuters. The society estimates that in 2000 -- the latest year for which data is available -- Canada spent C$5.5 billion ($4.7 billion) taking care of people with Alzheimer’s disease.

Copyright 2007 Reuters Limited. All rights reserved. Republication or redistribution of Reuters content is expressly prohibited without the prior written consent of Reuters.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/16611042/wid/11915773?GT1=8921

: )

HI

I am back. Believe it or not, I did try to post on this a few days ago, but it wasn't working (imagine that). So now that work has calmed down, I am doing it now.

Turkiye was something I will never forget.... everyone reading this blog knows about that anyways, so I don't need to repeat it. : ) I have the man of my dreams forever.

I do have one aggravation: while I was in Turkiye and NY, I submitted a request online at usps.com to have my mail held and to have the postman deliver it when I got back. Well, when I got back into town, there was no mail in my mailbox, and not in the bigger locked boxes either. I said, hum, no mail for 3.5 weeks? Must be something weird going on. So I call and call the local post office and keep talking to different people who can't tell me anything. Finally I talked to the supervisor who told me that what happened is that I have a new postman. Apparently the postpeople bid on routes, and my old postman (who was great) won another route, and my route was empty. Nice. So it probably got screwed up because of that, and also because the request was submitted online and sometimes the local post offices don't get the requests.

To make a long story short, my mail from 3.5 weeks has disappeared. Anyone who sent Xmas cards may have them sent back to them, or they may not-I have NO idea. I love it! (NOT) I am pissed as hell. The supervisor told me to check my apt. complex office to see if maybe the mailman gave the stack to them, but they said no. Watch, I will be like those stories you see on the news when people get postcards 45 years later. : /

Next time, I will pay someone to get my mail every few days. It would be worth the money rather than go through this crap again! Maybe if I complain enough, I will get free stamps. Or better yet, free shipping to Turkiye. ; )

I don't know

Sometimes I think I try too hard.

By this I mean to maintain friendships. To me, my friends are just as important as family, because they have gotten me through some, well, interesting times, and I just love their company and personalities. I always try to keep up with email, phone calls, telling people when I will be going out of town or out of country, sending b'day cards on time, etc. Sometimes I think some friends don't even care though. The question I keep asking myself is: should I keep doing this? Should I bother? Is it worth it? I am getting to the point where I am not going to send anything if they don't return the favor too. (This sounds like I am being a bitch, but for example, I have stopped sending b'day cards in the mail to people that don't send me any, and I have resorted to sending e-cards to save the money and the time.... but is the e-card even worth it if they don't remember mine?). This does sound kinda conceited, but....... : /

Don't get me wrong, some friends are not like this. Especially my best friend. She is always there for me, and always cares about what I do, and if I need advice, she responds right away. No matter if there are miles and miles inbetween us-we have managed to stay the best of friends since we were 13. : ) Thank god I have her, because without her, I wouldn't know what to do. Of course there are other friends I would be lost without too.... college roommate, other college friends, high school friends, etc. And of course my brother. We all know that. hahaha

Then there are others..... I KNOW people are busy, I KNOW people have family, kids, school, work, etc. but is there really not enough time to call a friend you have had for YEARS even for a 10 min phone call?? Once every few months even? Or send a 30 second email saying hey I am alive, just busy, and we'll talk soon? Forget the once a year birthday card or Xmas card-how about the times when there are no holidays forcing us to contact the people in our lives?

You would think with this technology we have, it's even easier to do this, but I guess not.

Sorry for being so cynical, but I had to say that. Maybe I am taking this too much to heart, but I don't think so, because I have had this same discussion with many people lately who feel the same way. Comments welcome.

Paris skyline

SO, the goal now is to outshine the Eiffel Tower? Build things to make the star attractions modern-day skyscrapers and not the most famous older buildings in the world?

"U.S. architect Thom Mayne -- a rebel known for his love of risk-taking -- has been chosen to build Paris's tallest-ever skyscraper, rivaled in height only by the Eiffel Tower, the property group behind the project said Monday. "

Taken from http://www.turkishdailynews.com.tr/article.php?enewsid=60371 .

Blech.

Another reason why Turkiye is so neat

Saint Nicholas is one of the most popular of all Christian saints. Although precise details are unclear, it seems he was born sometime around 280 AD in Patara in modern-day Turkey, and, after entering the priesthood at the age of 17, subsequently became Bishop of Myra (where his body remained until it was stolen by Italian merchants in 1087). The subject of many legends, Nicholas gained widespread renown for his love children, and his great generosity towards those less well-off than himself.


Taken from http://www.cnn.com/2006/WORLD/europe/11/20/santa.claus/index.html .

Bathroom habits

I have noticed that people I work with in my office and in neighboring offices always use the bathroom for people in wheelchairs. Why? Probably because it is bigger and the sink is right there.... for convenience. Lazy? YUP. I hate that bathroom because the toilet is higher and bigger. : / I never go in there.

Visitors are great

So it is going to be a very busy November (it is already!). Phil came into town Saturday with Jess, and we all had dinner. Cass came into town Sunday night with her friend Desra and they will be here until tomorrow morning. We have been having a great time laughing and going around Tally... although yesterday I couldn't remember what street the Governor's Mansion was on and I made Cass turn on a few one way roads in rush hour traffic. : / Sorry Cass! I finally found it-REMEMBER THAT IT IS ON BREVARD AND DUVAL/ADAMS! Ugh I am a dummy.

Dad comes into town this weekend, and then Mikey comes in later November after Thanksgiving. Then it's off to TURKIYE!!!! : ) : )

I have a date with the tv tomorrow night

RICKY is going to be honored as the person of the year on Univision at 8 PM. Get ready for the Latin Grammys!!!! : )

No wonder.

..."only about 27 percent of U.S. citizens currently possess a valid passport. "

: /

Taken from http://travel.msn.com/Guides/article.aspx?cp-documentid=375729&GT1=8709 .

You know when.....

.... you have been to Curves so many times and for so long that right when you walk in the workers put in the cd that you like so much. And you have the #s memorized. (Disc 7 and 41 are the Latin/Spanish/salsa ones).

.... you call overseas so much that you have memorized the 1-800 number on your calling card AND your 10-digit pin. THE PIN!!

.... you fly so much that you have memorized your Delta Skymiles number.

.... you are so old that the kids you used to babysit are now pregnant.

.... you have been in school so long (even after you quit) that your 5-shelf bookshelf can't fit any more books.

.... you have worked so long that you have memorized all of the course prefixes and numbers for just about every class at the university.

I'll think of more-these just came to me the other day. : )

IRRITATING

LONDON, England (AP) -- British Prime Minister Tony Blair said Tuesday that Islamic head scarves are a sign of separation and Britain's Muslims should be encouraged to integrate with mainstream society in order to improve the quality of their lives.

Blair said Tuesday that the veil "is a mark of separation, and that's why it makes other people from outside the community feel uncomfortable."

"People want to know that the Muslim community in particular but actually all minority communities have got the balance right between integration and multiculturalism," he said.

Blair said evidence shows that "when people do integrate more, they achieve more as well. There is a reason why minority communities that have integrated well then end up doing better, achieving more, attaining more."

Here is the link to the story: http://www.cnn.com/2006/WORLD/europe/10/17/britain.blair.ap/index.html

ARE YOU KIDDING????????????????????? I AM FUMING. I might have to rethink my opinions about Blair now............... the community will just have to DEAL with the headscarves! It's today's society! DEAL WITH IT! ACCEPT IT! What are we teaching our children-that no one can be different??? AHHHH!!!

Trash

I have posted before about trash.... and I felt like I needed to do it again. On my way to work, I saw the following on the ground: the usual beer bottles and cans, the usual crushed water bottles, dented soda cans, paper cups and wrappers from fast food places like nearby Taco Bell and Wendy's and Moe's, the paper bracelets people get at clubs, Oreo and AirHeads wrappers, a pair of blue rubber gloves, and the best one: a thing of K-Y. : / Better than the used condoms I see sometimes and random undergarments.

Everything my brother said was RIGHT

It was torture watching the Yanks tonight. I don't have anything else more to say. Everyone needs to listen to my brother!!!!!! He predicted the whole thing.

What a freaking week!!!

I can't give this past Wed and tonight enough justice, so I will only say that we met AARON NEVILLE and TIEMPO LIBRE!!!! (respectively) : ) WOW. Such nice and humble people too!!

"America"

I was listening to a radio show this morning, and they were talking about how they hate that we are called "America". I started thinking about when I travel. When I go to Spain, they say ah, you are from the US or "los estados" ("the States"). In Costa Rica, they call it the US too. In Cairo they called it America. I tried to tell people in Cairo I was from the United States, and they almost seemed confused, so I had to keep saying America. In Turkey they called it either the USA or America. It's just kind of strange.... when people say America, they are ignoring Central and South America too. After all, what do they matter, right? : ( I am sure the ticos would have something to say about that. It's just so fascinating to travel-you really learn so much about yourself and where you grew up through other people's eyes.

Just one random thought today too: I was in the bathroom after teaching my class one day, and when I went to wash my hands, the soap dispenser was over the opposite sink. I had to reach over and say sorry to the other lady washing her hands to get my soap. We laughed about how dumb it was that the soap dispenser was over just one sink, and that the paper towel thing was inbetween. They both should be in the middle so everyone has access to them. Ugh. Don't people plan out bathrooms anymore?

Some things

So I watched the entire interview with Terry Irwin last night with wet eyes. : ( When she called Steve her prince, I lost it. I was bawling. Crying hard. I really did NOT care for Barbara Walters-she drives me nuts. I thought Terry held up great under the circumstances, and talked about Steve with so much pride. It is so great to see that there are some amazing relationships out there with so much love and committment. They really give people something to look forward to. I know this is looking WAY into the future, but I am wondering how she could possibly marry someone that could measure up to Steve.

It made me think about my prince. : )

On another note, Grady won The Contender!! WOW!

Happy birthday to me : )

It has been a great few days leading up to my bday, and there is still more to come. Los Compadres was awesome Saturday-my Tallahassee friends came, and the waiters at Los (especially Rafa!) got a cake for me from Publix with candles and my name on the cake (they don't do that for anyone!), and of course I had free drinks. They also all signed a card for me. Later, we went to Cafe Cabernet of course and I got free drinks. : ) Today, my askim was the first to call me and sing to me. : ) Mom called, then Mikey, then Dad. Mom and Mikey sent me 29 hot pink roses with a hot pink ribbon, and Mom also had cake delivered. She does that every year and it makes my bday so nice. Hole and others have also emailed, sent ecards and cards in the mail, commented on myspace, called, IMed, etc. Hole and Erin said that presents are on their way too. Yeah! And I think my class is planning something too.... hahaha But really, everyone is making my bday so great. Thank you.

Happy birthday to me : )

It has been a great few days leading up to my bday, and there is still more to come. Los Compadres was awesome Saturday-my Tallahassee friends came, and the waiters at Los (especially Rafa!) got a cake for me from Publix with candles and my name on the cake (they don't do that for anyone!), and of course I had free drinks. They also all signed a card for me. Later, we went to Cafe Cabernet of course and I got free drinks. : ) Today, my askim was the first to call me and sing to me. : ) Mom called, then Mikey, then Dad. Mom and Mikey sent me 29 hot pink roses with a hot pink ribbon, and Mom also had cake delivered. She does that every year and it makes my bday so nice. Hole and others have also emailed, sent ecards and cards in the mail, commented on myspace, called, IMed, etc. Hole and Erin said that presents are on their way too. Yeah! And I think my class is planning something too.... hahaha But really, everyone is making my bday so great. Thank you.

Taxi cab confessions

I was in a cab yesterday, and started talking to the cab driver like I always do. I like to know where they came from, why they are driving cabs, etc. I asked him to wait for me at the place I was going, and that got into a whole VERY interesting discussion. He was VERY nice about it and said it was no problem. Then he proceeded to tell me about these two people who took cabs everywhere. One man he said took a cab to ORLANDO (yes, ORLANDO.... a 4 hour drive, and sometimes more depending on traffic), with a stop in Gainesville (2 hours from here), and back to Tally. It cost over $1,000. Then he said another man in his 60s here in Tally would have the cab driver wait for him for 3 hours while he grocery shopped. I said, "why didn't he just call you when he was done?" and the driver said "well, I told him he should do that b/c it would cost a lot, but he didn't care about the money since he was rich, and didn't want to wait one second after he was done shopping". He was felt secure in knowing that someone was waiting for him too I guess. Wow huh?

Then I said yeah, you must have a TON of stories. He said yes, I don't work the night shift, but the drivers that do have a ton better stories. I said I bet-with all these drunk college kids and things. I said do you ever watch Taxi Cab Confessions and he said no but I should. hahahaha He said what do you study in school and I said well, I did do anthropology and humanities, and he said well if anyone studies psychology or sociology or anthro too, they would love to sit with me in the cab for a day. !! I don't doubt it.

Meanwhile, 3 DAYS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : )

And, one more thing. I LOVE ER and THE OFFICE. Thursday nights are so great. ER was emotionally draining last night though, but I loved it. Here is my prediction (and don't read on if you have not seen ER yet-if you taped it or something): I think they are going to make Sam pregnant. What a nightmare that would be. I was crying during that scene.... and the one when Abby yelled at Luca. What high emotions she must have been experiencing. Well him too but he was not on the surgery table.

That's all for now.

5 DAYS!!

:)

Also, as predicted, Steve Forbes made it into the finals of The Contender. I thought he would be fighting Norberto Bravo, but he is fighting Grady Brewer! I love both of these guys (N and G)-really great families and personalities, so I didn't care who won, but I thought N would. This final will be great this Tuesday at the Staples Center. Wish I could fly out to LA for a day and see it.

Words

You know how certain words look weird after a while? Like they are not spelled right? I had to keep looking at the word "beyond" today ten different times to make sure it was ENGLISH. Just my random thought of the day.

THE CONTENDER!!

Just so I have it written down: my pick to win The Contender is Steve Forbes. I think he is unstoppable. No matter who he faces. It's one of my favorite shows of all-time.

American football

I don't know what it is this year, but I just can't get into American football (as opposed to "regular" football, which is known here as soccer). I mean, I will go to some FSU games, and watch important NFL games whenever they are, but even last night when the Manning bowl was on, I didn't really care. This is odd for me, because I usually like football. I still am in love with watching tennis and baseball, but football this year is just... eh. Maybe I am too influenced by Turkish sports. ; )

Three weeks...

... til my favorite day of the year!! : )

Three weeks...

... til my favorite day of the year!! : )

Freaky thing

Yesterday I was walking back to my office after teaching, and I saw a freak accident. Where my building is, there is a hill. This kid on a bike comes WHIZZING past me and a few other people down this hill and runs SMACK into this girl walking to class. He hit her so hard that she fell to the pavement and laid there for a sec and I thought we would have to call an ambulance. After about 30 seconds though, she sat up holding her head while the kid on the bike was apologizing profusely and some people had stopped and helped her gather her books and purse. I kept walking b/c I was on the phone, but I kept looking back and by then, she had stood up and was talking to the kid on the bike. Hope she got his name in case there are injuries. : / Slow down bikers!!

Survivor

What kind of ASSININE idea is it to split up the teams according to ethnic group?!?!?! Society needs to unite and find commonalities, not split apart and make stereotypes even THAT more apparent!! Ugh. Worst idea in the history of tv.

Been a while.....

Sorry for the lack in posts-the Nile cruise ship didn't have internet access, and since then I have been catching up. : P

So I keep thinking about the Egypt trip and I still can't believe I was there and I saw all these amazing things. The Saqaara step-pyramid (2750 BC), of course the real pyramids in Giza, the mosques in Cairo, the Aswan dams, the Roman catacombs in Alexandria.... I could go on and on. Egypt is the most incredible country, and the antiquities police surely are no joke. They guard those tombs and monuments with their life.

I was also so surprised at Cairo. The city was so much bigger than I thought. Our tour guide said that 17 million people live there-in an area that should really fit 4 million. During the work days, that number swells to 20 million with everyone that commutes from local villages. Traffic jams at 3 AM. Man. No wonder the Egyptian government doesn't make people finish their houses before they move in-the over population is so bad there that people need housing asap. Don't worry, I have pics of all of this.

Just had to share some of my thoughts on the trip. Everyone that reads this blog will get the pics anyways, so you will see the daily events of our trip soon. : )

Quick post from Cairo...

Again, I only have a short time, so this will be quick. The sound and light show was amazing last night and I got some great shots of the pyramids and Sphinx at night. Today we went to two mosques, ate lunch on the road, and went to the Egyptian museum. We saw King Tut's tomb, golden mask, and other incredible things from as early as 2500 BC. Tomorrow we have to get up at 330 AM to catch a flight to Luxor and start the Nile cruise! Til then............. sorry so short. Oh, and I can't believe how HUGE Cairo is-17 million people fit into a city that could hold maybe 4 or 5 million (based on land area). It is incredible.

Continuation of the Middle Eastern summer.....

..... or North African-whatever you prefer. : ) I am sitting at the business center at the hotel Mom and I are staying at. The hotel is about 300 feet or so from the pyramids. NO LIE. Today we went to the pyramids, went into one of them (the second largest), took a camel ride which scared me half to death (although Mom was loving it and even made the camel guy RUN with the camel and I almost flipped out), went to Saqqara pyramid (the oldest one in Egypt and the oldest one in the world made of stone-2750 BC), went to the city of Memphis (the old Egyptian capital) and saw a statue of Ramses II, ate lunch by the Sphinx, and went to a kids' carpet school. Their hands were moving SO fast-it was unbelievable. The tour we are with is sooooo organzied and it's great. The tour guide buys all the tickets for us, gives us advice on the pesky people trying to get us to buy souvenirs and following us around, and gives us discounts on things to buy. : )

What else... I am trying to write fast b/c I bought an internet card and I only have a limited time. I fell last night (what's new) in the road at the hotel and hurt my knee. Nothing bad, but it hurts today (not bad enough so I couldn't go climbing down into the pyramid though). haha We also met the cutest little boy on the flight from Frankfurt to Cairo... he said his name is Eliah but people call him Buster. LOL BUSTER. How funny is that! Tonight is the laser light show in front of the Sphnix and pyramids. I can't wait. : ) Tomorrow is another mosque day where we will see the mosque I studied about in my art history classes: the Sultan Hassan.

Okay well guess I will go. Oh, and if you ever fly, take Lufthansa. They are awesome. Just like Turkish Air. All these foreign airlines give you tons of food.

Alaskans in Iraq....

.... present an interesting story. A couple of months ago I read an article about how the adjustment for soldiers from Alaska sent to Iraq is so great (more than the other 49 states) and how their villages suffer without them during fishing and hunting season. I couldn't find the original article I was looking for, but I did google "eskimo" and "Iraq" and found one from the LA Times from June 5, 2006. Here are some exerpts.

The Iraq deployment in western Alaska comes at an especially poignant time: Late spring is known as "breakup" in the Alaskan bush, when the ever-lengthening days finally melt the snow and ice that have blanketed the tundra for more than half the year and kept it eerily quiet.But as the Yupik men at the mouth of the Kuskokwim River ready themselves for the hunting, fishing and seal-catching that still provide a significant component of people's diets here, they find themselves preparing for a breakup of an almost unfathomably different sort.

In this village of 386 people, six men have been notified to report for duty next month. Though all the men knew they could be called when they signed up years ago for Guard duty — an important source of cash here — several said they were struggling to adjust to the reality."When I signed up, I never thought I would go to war; I mean, you never really think of Alaska being at war with anybody," said Harold Azean, 23, a Guard specialist.Ben Lupie, 30, a Kongiganak carpenter who is also going to Iraq, said he was optimistic that all the men would come back alive. "Us being a hunting people, I think it gives us an advantage," he said, going into an impressive series of mimes: the light prancing of a caribou, the ripple of a fish just below the surface of a river, even the flapping wings of the ducks, cranes and geese that are just arriving on spring migration."We notice the tiniest motions," Lupie said. "So I think we'll be aware if something suspicious is up, and we'll know how to react."

The call-up in the marshy delta country to the west reaches villages so remote that there are only two ways to get here most of the year — by airplane or snowmobile — and a third from May to September, or perhaps October in a warm year with a late freeze-up: the river.

So in places with Eskimo names such as Kongiganak, Kwigillingok and Manokotak, elder leaders and wives find themselves planning how to carry on without strong young men who serve as vital providers of food.

Very interesting dilemma. You can find the article here.

Reminders to yourself

Does anyone ever call themselves and leave messages at home reminding themselves to do something that night or get something ready for the next morning? (ie. "buy stamps", "(insert name)'s birthday is today", "call (insert name)", tape "(insert tv show name)")? I do all the time, and I wondered if anyone else does. It's not that I am ashamed, because it's pretty funny, and it works. I was just wondering who else does it. : P

This is why the rest of the world is more cultured than the US

So on CNN, there was a story about how people were freaking out over the cover of "Babytalk" magazine. There is a close-up picture of a baby breastfeeding. Yup that's IT. Here is the link to the article-it's an interesting read. Here are some exerpts:

"These readers weren't complaining about a sexually explicit cover, but rather one of a baby nursing, on a wholesome parenting magazine -- yet another sign that Americans are squeamish over the sight of a nursing breast, even as breast-feeding itself gains more support from the government and medical community."

"Babytalk editor Susan Kane says the mixed response to the cover clearly echoes the larger debate over breast-feeding in public. 'There's a huge Puritanical streak in Americans,' she said, 'and there's a squeamishness about seeing a body part -- even part of a body part.' "

My anthropology professor used to breastfeed her baby right in front of me and pump her breast too. I thought it was great that she could be so open about it. When people travel to places like Espana, Turkey, wherever, you will see magazines with naked people sold right on the street and not covered up with paper like they do here. And you will see tv shows and nude art. Big deal. People are open and proud of their bodies. GET A GRIP PEOPLE! Comments welcome as always.

Personal hygiene

I am going to divert from talking about Turkiye for a sec and talk about gross people. I was in the bathroom today at work and this lady came in the stall next to mine. She sat down RIGHT ON THE TOILET SEAT (how did I know? because I saw her feet not on the ground) and didn't even put toilet paper on it (hello, there are germs and diseases!). THEN she peed, wiped, and DID NOT WASH HER HANDS. UGH!!!!!!!!!!!! I wanted to puke! I wash my hands sometimes two times PLUS put antibac on. It's for reasons like this that I do that. SICK! DISGUSTING! NASTY!

Conflict in Lebanon

I read something somewhere that some evacuees were being transported back to the US through Turkiye-the town of Mersin. I was just there in Mersin. : / It's just kinda surreal.

New singer!

Everyone knows I am always looking for new music whenever I travel. My new favorite music is from Tarkan... I call him the Turkish Ricky Martin. : ) He sings in English and his music is great. It has Turkish sounds blended with pop stuff... slow, fast songs, etc. He's awesome! Check him out. Photo courtesy of this site. This is the pic on the cover of his album "Come Closer". His song "Bounce" is great too, as well as the song with the same title as the album.

UGH

TRAVELER'S DIARRHEA SUCKS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Sad and tired

I am back. : ( I think the sad face explains it all.

I don't think I have slept in 48 hours either. Tuesday was my last day in Turkiye and everyone there made it incredibly special! Serkan's whole family gave me presents. Funda (sis) gave me a handknit scarf that she made and a jewelry box she painted and designed, Hasan (bro) gave me the famous Turkiye eye that wards off evil, his aunt who I only met once for 10 min gave me a handknit shirt, his uncle gave me some shoe figurines, his cousin Ibrahim gave me a wire candle holder, etc. It was amazing!! These people are so giving and so nice... I didnt want to leave. Monday night Serkan's mom made me a special dinner too of breaded meat balls and salad and they were AWESOME.

Tues night Serkan, Ibrahim, best friend Tolga, and friend Fazli took me out to this traditional Istanbul-type restaurant. I can't wait for people to see the pics.... and then to a bar and we danced Turkish style. : ) I only got about 2 hours of sleep (if that) bc I had to be at the airport at 530.

Ah, the trip home.... was awful. Turkish Air was fine getting to JFK from Adana and Istanbul (10.5 hour flight), but there were bad storms in JFK and we sat on the runway for 3.5 hours on the flight to ATL. I obviously missed my connection to Tally and had to spend the night last night in the ATL airport. That was fun. I didnt sleep a wink. I am exhausted and finally got home today (had to call in sick bc obviously I wasn't going to make work). Can't wait to sleep. The flight from JFK-ATL finally left at 1110 pm or something (supposed to leave at 730) and bc we sat on the runway so long, the fuel went down and they had to stop to refuel in Virginia. I had to pee there but someone took forever in the bano on the plane. A guy knocked and the lady answered back in a southern accent "I have diarrhea- I'm sorry". Great. So I held my pee until the seat belt sign was off, and we arrived in ATL at 140 am or something. To waste time all night, I basically talked on the phone til 3 am (thanks Mom), talked to Serkan probably 10 times after that, and watched Larry King's interview with Dan Rather. I didnt want to doze off b/c I was paranoid about someone taking my purse and carryon. The flight to Tally was great too-some dog was barking the whole time. UGH! I couldnt win. So the whole trip was about 36 hours total (Turkish time to Turkish time).

BUT totally worth it. : ) Pics coming asap.

Wow what a weekend

So we left Saturday to go to the seasıde and ıt was beyond amazıng. We went wıth Serkan,s cousın Ibrahım. In the mornıng though, Serkans mom made us such a nıce breakfast of eggs, sausages, bread wıth Nutella, and cucumbers and tomatoes (the staple here!). Hıs aunt came over as well as hıs nıece agaın, and we all played untıl we left for the beach. : ) And hıs dad showed me hıs grapes and plants.

The drıve was about an hour long and we ended up stayıng the nıght wıth Ibrahımis aunt and uncle (remember that Ib. ıs Serkans cousın from hıs dad,s sıde, and these people were from Ib.,s mom,s sıde). Theır apt. has an awesome vıew of the Medıterranean and the mountaıns all ın one. Plus the fantastıc pool. So we went swımmıng that nıght ın the pool and ın the Med. and then drank, and then came back and ate and went to sleep pretty much. Yesterday they (and Ib.,s cousın) took me to some castles about a half hour away. Whıle Ib. and the cousın drank beer, Serkan walked up wıth me to thıs castle used by the Byzantınes. THE BYZANTINES!!!! Well, let me correct that. The castle stands on ancıent ruıns and some stones are from the Byzantıne perıod, but really ıt ıs a medıeval castle. Stıll ıncredıble. It was buılt at the most brıllıant strategıc locatıon wıth a bırd,s eye vıew of the mountaıns and the sea. When I get home, I wıll do more research so I can label my pıctures accurately.

Only 2 more days and I really thınk I am goıng to cry. I started tearıng up yesterday at the thought of havıng to leave Serkan. Another trıp to Türkıye wıll be comıng soon....................... anyone wıllıng to come to the weddıng? ; ) Tonıght Serkan saıd that hıs mom was makıng a goodbye dınner and tomorrow hıs frıend Fazlı saıd he was goıng to make somethıng too. These people are amazıng!

Dream come true

On Thurs, Serkan took me to the mosque here ın Adana. I cannot even descrıbe thıs feelıng to everyone. Hıs mom gave me a scarf and long sleeves to wear ınsıde (dont worry, I have pıcs of me as a Muslım for a day-ıt felt so neat!). It was the most amazıng buıldıng I thınk I have ever been ın. Men were prayıng ınsıde, women were too (ın separate places), tourısts were takıng pıcs, and Serkan showed me the readıngs of the Koran translated ınto Turkısh. The mınarets were so hıgh, and the tıles ınsıde.......... all handmade and absolutely gorgeous. That was the hıghlıght of the trıp so far. : ) Serkan asked these two women to help me put on the scarf because he dıdnt know how to do ıt. hahaha

We also went to the area where the Amerıcan aır base ıs. That was ınterestıng. Yesterday we drove 4 hours to Neveşır (dang, I cant remember the spellıng) and to see Kapadokya (Cappadoccıa). I,ll tell everyone about that later ın the pıcs, but ıts one of the places I learned about ın art hıstory classes. Ancıent cıvılızatıon of people lıvıng ın caves and structures set back agaınst the Taurus mountaın range...... man, thıs place ıs just unbelıevable!!!! Centurıes and centurıes of conquerors and groups of people (and Alexander the Great!)!

Serkan,s nıece just got here and ıs screamıng. haha She ıs peekıng ın the doorway. Englısh really ısnt a barrıer-kıds are all the same. haha I am usıng the onlıne Englısh-Turkısh dıctıonary rıght now to talk to hıs sıster Funda. : )

Well today we are goıng to the seasıde (Medıterranean Sea). I guess we are leavıng ın a bıt so I better take a shower. GO ITALIA tomorrow!! : )

Merhaba

That means hı ın Turkısh. : ) I am learnıng so many new words and I love ıt!! Evet ıs yes, hayır ıs no, dış hekımı ıs dentıst (a lot of Serkan,s frıends are dentısts), çıkış ıs exıt, bıra ıs beer. How great!!

Well on Monday, we went around the bıg lake ın Adana and he took me to see hıs unıversıty. It ıs always so cool to see other unıversıtıes and how they are set up. Then we went to hıs frıend Atıla,s offıce (dentıst) and I had Turkısh coffee. YES I ACTUALLY DRANK COFFEE for once. Maybe that ıs why my stomach ıs actıng up (Doubletree Marsha). haha They do thıs thıng wıth the coffee here-when you are done drınkıng ıt, the brown stuff stays on the bottom, and you have to spın ıt around and tıp the cup upsıde down for a mınute or so. Then you put ıt back the rıght sıde up and see ın what pattern the graın has fallen and that ıs your fortune. Mıne was good.... and ıt saıd that Hole and the baby were goıng to be fıne! Then we drank beer by the lake and the vıew was absolutely amazıng of a yacht place\marına. Then we stopped by Serkan,s store agaın to say hı to hıs bro Hasan and then Atıla and hıs wıfe had us over for dınner and World Cup. They made thıs INSANE kebob and pork chops and chıcken and tomato salad. I also learned that thıs alcoholıc drınk called rakı ıs nasty. hahaha At least Italıa won that nıght!!

Yesterday we got up wıcked late (lıke noon) and agaın Funda made us breakfast. She ıs such a great person even ıf we can,t understand each other! She sets out my towels ın the mornıngs... I feel lıke I am ın a hotel. : ) Then Serkan showed me all hıs pıcs from when he was a baby and the cırcumcısıon ceremony (yıkes) they have... he explaıned to me all about the people who sponsor you and presents you get and all that. Hıs nıece Ece came over too (she ıs 3) and she mıght possıbly be the cutest kıd not related to me. haha She was smılıng all the tıme and laughıng and she gave me kısses. Serkan then took me downtown to show me Ataturk Park and downtown Adana. BEAUTIFUL. Then I watched the World Cup wıth 7 Turkısh guys. LOL And Tolga Marsha! (Hıs gırlfrıend ıs so pretty too!)

OOH I guess breakfast ıs ready so I should go. I wıll leave ıt at that.................... more to come. : )

WOW, I am in Türkiye

Hı everyone.... I am here, and ıts absolutely ındescrıbable. I flew ınto Istanbul (passed over England, Germany, rıght over Vıenna and near Budapest, over Bulgarıa, the Black Sea, and then ınto Türkıye). : ) I CANNOT BELIEVE I AM HERE STILL.... ıt,s lıke a dream. And I am stıll tryıng to get used to these Turkısh computers. haha Look at these dıfferent symbols-ş e € ö ç ü ğ

Anyways, I made ıt sound so easy to get here, but ın realıty ıt was basıcally a freakıng nıghtmare. We were delayed 6 hours ın JFK (supposed to leave at 6 PM Sunday and really left at 1230 AM). Part of that was sıttıng on the runway for oh I dont know.... an hour and a half ın the hottest plane on Earth wıth people yellıng at the flıght attendants ın Turkısh. I also met thıs guy Tolga who ıs Turkısh but lıves ın Boston wıth hıs wıfe and kıds and so we hung out almost that whole 6 hours whıch was really nıce. Well we fınally took off, and of course I mıssed my connectıon goıng from Istanbul to Adana. I had met thıs guy Vıctor (people call hım Tor) who ıs ın the Aır Force, and he was goıng to Adana too sınce there ıs an Amerıcan base there. So we were runnıng to our gate only to fınd out that we couldnt board and had to take a later flıght. We drank a beer and we were on our way. After ten thousand gate changes, goıng through securıty twıce, havıng Turkish Aır mess up my tıcket, etc. ıt was a relıef to see Serkan waıtıng for me ın Adana... ıt made everythıng worth ıt!!! Poor thıng went to the aırport 3 tımes not knowıng when I was comıng ın... he had called Turkısh Aır and they saıd I mıght not be on the flıght I was on because ıt was full, so he had to keep checkıng. : (

It ıs truly amazıng beıng here... so far I have met hıs mom who ıs the cutest thıng ever, hıs sıster Funda, cousıns, frıends. I was woken up thıs mornıng at sunrıse (517 AM) by the sound of the mosque and the man on top of the mınaret makıng the chants (I guess you would call them). That was unreal.... as everyone knows, Muslıms pray 5 tımes daıly. At sunrıse there are just chants and no prayer, but then there ıs a dawn prayer, noon prayer, afternoon prayer, sunset prayer, and nıght prayer. So I wıll be hearıng these every day 5 tımes a day. AMAZING........ I cannot descrıbe thıs. Last nıght Serkan drove me past the mosque ın Adana all lıt up at nıght and I couldnt take my eyes off ıt. My dream come true.

Serkan ıs just as gorgeous and wonderful as he ıs on the net and on the phone. And shy too. hahaha (he just told me to wrıte that) When he pıcked me up at the aırport and we met for the fırst tıme, ıt felt lıke a movıe. It's meant to be I thınk. : ) Hıs house ıs sooo cute, and hıs sıster just made us breakfast of bread, tomatoes, cucmbers, berrıes, orange juıce, and thıs sweet bread made from the oıl of sesame seeds.

Okay well we are off. Happy 4th of July! Untıl next tıme. : ) I wıll be havıng the tıme of my lıfe here.......................

The WB

So I was watching one of my all-time favorite shows, "Cheaters" (Saturdays at 9 on the WB) this past weekend, and I realized that all the commercials were aimed at people they thought were... I don't know how to put this.... lower class/uneducated?? By that I mean that the commercials were advertising help with credit card debt, erection problems, local chat lines, etc. as if to say that the only people who watch the WB are losers or something. That is really bad because that is not true! I love "Cheaters". I really don't know how to explain this....... maybe someone can help. I am really out of it today-maybe I will add more to this when I can think clearly.

The plight of Guatemala

This is an email I received the other day from Casa Alianza's distribution list. Casa Alianza is an organization located in Central America and is a branch of Covenant House New York. It works to protect the rights of children.


CONTINUED HARASSMENT AND AGGRESSION ON THE PART OF GUATEMALAN SOLDIERS AGAINST STREET CHILDREN AND EDUCATORS OF CASA ALIANZA

For the second time security forces assault an Educator from Casa Alianza

On Wednesday the 14th of June a group of street educators were conducting their daily activities with the street children. When they arrived they were surprised to find that a group of soldiers, who make up the “City Security Squadron”, had a group of street children standing up against the wall. They were searching them and, at the same time, giving them blows to the chest. The military were traveling on the motorcycles of the National Civil Police, as part of the combined operatives of the two governmental institutions.

An educator from Casa Alianza went to their defense and in response the soldiers assaulted him too. They put him against the wall, searched him and took his name down in a notebook. The educator explained to them that he worked for Casa Alianza and showed him the respective identification. The soldiers responded with crude language, giving them to understand that this did not matter to them. One of the soldiers said to them, “stop interfering in things, we could find ourselves meeting when we are not in uniform”, which was taken to be a clear threat.

Casa Alianza, along with various other organizations that work for human rights, are becoming greatly concerned recently, due to the fact that they hear daily of harassment of street children and street youth by the military forces. Such preoccupations were made greater when it was officially announced that the army and the police will strengthen their work together, and that the soldiers, as much as the police, will be equipped with support materials such as electric immobilizers and pepper spray. With the situation as it has been in the last month, this greatly concerns Casa Alianza, due to the possibility that it could increase abuses committed against children and adolescents.

On the other hand, the Prosecutor of Violent Crimes reported that up to May 86 bodies had been found with evidence of torture, of which, 60% of the victims were registered as having criminal records, and that the statistics indicate an increase in violent deaths.


STUFF LIKE THIS IS HAPPENING ALL OVER THE WORLD, AND WE NEED TO BE MORE EDUCATED ABOUT IT!

I DON'T GET IT

WHY DO PEOPLE WEAR SWEATERS OR SWEATSHIRTS WHEN IT IS 94 DEGREES OUT?!?!

In no particular order...

These are just things that I have thought about lately.

1. I did laundry today and it's great that the machines are so nasty that my clothes (specifically a pretty red dress I have) come out with more stains on them than when they went in the washer.

2. I saw "The DaVinci Code" on Thursday and loved it! I guess I am in the minority though b/c most people said they didn't like it (the ones that read the book BEFORE the movie at least). At work the other day, some people said I would like the movie so much b/c I didn't read the book first. By that I assume the book is better, and that the movie ruined it. (?) Either way, the movie was amazing. On my grading scale of A to F, I give it an A-. (As opposed to my favorite all time movies like "The Gladiator" that get an A+).

3. I also saw "The Breakup" today (Aniston and Vaughn). It made me laugh all through the movie, but the ending left little to enjoy I think. I give it a B-/C+.

4. I came to realize that in one year (November to November), my international travels will have taken me to Western Europe (Espana last Thanksgiving), Central America (Costa Rica a month ago), Eastern Europe/Middle East (Turkiye in 2 weeks), and Northern Africa/Middle East (Egypt in a month and a half). Damn. I am so lucky!! I can't sit still! : ) : ) I cannot imagine how many pics I will take on the two upcoming trips. Don't be surprised if there are 1,000 total.

Recent happenings

Wow, thanks for your comments on the high school major thing! That seemed to spark some debate. : )

So I decided to check out that new show on CBS on Tuesdays called the Tuesday Night Book Club. I could only watch it for 20 min though b/c it was just so made up.... despite the fact that it was supposed to be reality. Seven women from Arizona who meet every Tuesday for a book club end up talking about their marriages, sex lives, jobs, and kids and don't even read the books. There is a divorced mother of 3, a newlywed, a woman who has been married since 19 and wants to leave her hubby, a woman who had a husband with an addiction, a party girl (single), a trophy wife, and another I can't remember. Basically they all talk about how bad their lives are and cry about it. The newlywed and her hubby moved into a new house and she claims he won't help her with anything, while he says she nags. Usual stuff. It was good at first, but I still felt the whole thing was staged. Then I turned the channel. I may tune in again next week to give it another try, but I can't guarantee anything.

Other than that, the World Cup is going on.... Spain kicked a*s and poor Costa Rica keeps losing. I love the Cup though!!

Going to see DaVinci Code tonight-perhaps I'll put up a commentary about it.

Picking majors.... in high school?!

Sorry I haven't posted-I intended to yesterday and the day before, but when I tried to get onto Blogger, it didn't work. Anyways, here is a new law in the state of FL and I really don't know what to say about it...... other than it will affect my job a lot.

Jun 5, 5:05 PM EDT
Bush signs education bill requiring high school majors
By KELLI KENNEDY Associated Press Writer
DAVIE, Fla. (AP) -- Florida high school students will be the first in the nation required to declare majors and minors like college students, as part of a sweeping education overhaul bill that Gov. Jeb Bush signed Monday.
The provision, to begin during the next school year, is designed to bolster poor graduation rates by allowing students to study subjects that excite them.
A major could include traditional academic subjects like English and math or a vocational field such as carpentry or auto repair. Students still have to pass a core curriculum.
"Not all students are the same," the governor told a group of students from McFatter Technical High School in suburban Fort Lauderdale, where he signed the bill. "Some struggle with certain subjects while others excel. Our education system should not be a one size fits all system for every student, but it should adapt to meet the needs of each student."
Students are making great strides academically in elementary school, Bush said. But by the time they reach middle school, their interest starts to wane. By the time students are in high school test scores start to plummet.
"We see major declines in reading and math in 10th grade and that is not acceptable," he said.
The governor said all the provisions in his "APlus-Plus" plan will increase rigor and relevance at the middle and high school levels.
Yorlenis Rodriguez, 16, who has decided to spend her senior year studying nursing at McFatter, praised the program.
"It's better because you get an opportunity to work outside (high school) and make money, and I get a start on my college career," Rodriguez said.
Critics contend the education bill does little to address the real problem - a system that relies too heavily on the Florida Comprehensive Assessment Test.
"Florida has the worst high school graduation rate in the nation and it's only gotten worse under the A- plus plan," said Rep. Dan Gelber, D-Miami Beach, who voted against the bill. "Rather than repair a flawed policy, we simply continue down the same wrong kind of path. I thought there was very little in the bill that would meaningfully change anything."
Rep. Shelley Vana, D-Lantana, applauded the vocation component of the bill, but said the plan overall is still fundamentally flawed.
"The A-plus-plus is attempting to remedy the fact that long term the A-plus plan doesn't really work," Vana said.
The bill (HB 7087) requires high school students to take a fourth year of math, as well as career planning instruction for middle school students.
Additionally, middle and high school students who perform poorly on the FCAT, must enroll in an intensive reading course. Teachers who fill vacancies at low performing schools or in subjects where there are shortages will receive higher compensation.
The bill also prohibits local school districts from starting the school year earlier than two weeks before Labor Day.
The starting date limit is a response to complaints from parents and the tourism industry about starting dates steadily creeping into early and mid-August, instead of later in the month - a move prompted by a growing emphasis on standardized education.
© 2006 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Learn more about our Privacy Policy.

Here is the link to the article. I just don't get why we have to push students to pick a major in high school-they can't even pick one in college b/c they are so many opportunities.... I don't know if many 15 yr-olds know what they want to do until they are 60 yrs old. : ( Opinions????

I know, I know

I will post more Costa Rica pics when I get them developed.... what I do on every trip I take is take emergency cameras (disposables) in case my digital doesn't work (like if I forget to charge it, which happens RARELY). I want to save the disposable pics on a CD but CVS was out of CDs when I asked, so I have to wait to share the pics. They are good ones too... in due time, in due time. : )

Meanwhile.... the French Open continues, and Nadal gave me a little scare today vs. Frenchman Mathieu. Nadal dropped the first set, but won 5-7, 6-4, 6-4, 6-4. Phew. And on his 20th b'day too. Now his clay court streak is 56 consecutive matches won. The longest in the open era. My dilemma is predicting who will win the French. Everyone is saying Nadal vs. Federer... do I want to go with that? I think so. I actually don't know what to predict here for the winner. I think I will say Federer b/c he wants it so badly. But I don't know-Nadal fought back today. If I HAD to put money on it, I'd say Federer. He just has to contend with one of the most feared forehands in the game and the speed of Nadal. It'll be quite the match to watch.

And Costa Rica opens up vs. Germany in the World Cup. Vamos ticos!! (And Espana too of course!) I cannot wait for this!