had a fantastic dinner with friends on saturday. i had forgotten how much i love that cuisine...with dishes such as Doro Wot and Yebeg Siga Alitcha, how can you not love this food? does anyone know from which country the aformentioned dishes originate? lois and i were just gorging ourselves ;)
and yesterday, lois and i went downtown to hang out a bit. i wanted to check out some of the architecture that we Denverites take for granted and rarely take note (of). and what a fantastic day (weather-wise)! although a wee bit breezy, i don't recall seeing a cloud until sunset...
we did lotsa walking...from 16th street mall to LoDo mainly Wazee and Blake Sts. even swung by Falling Rock Tap House for a couple beers and a visit with Jeff, a bartender who is a childhood friend. he threw in a couple shots too :) suffice to say that lois and i were pretty happy by the time we left.
still wanting to wander a bit more, we ended up in Ross and found a real nice windbreaker for lois to take to Spain. this one fits much better than the black one that she usually borrows from me. and now, we no longer have to fight over the silly thing. man, hers even has an inside pocket...she thinks she's so cool now.
with a couple hours 'til sundown, we grabbed some *$$...browsed a bit in a cute little t-shirt and card shop...and perused through the bargains at Barnes& Noble. she found some easter basket stuffers for her godchildren (Hattie and Sallie), who'll be coming up from Divide on thursday. i think they'll be thrilled with their goodies; lois has been spoiling them (almost rotten) since the day they were born...
what a gloriously fun weekend. too bad that i didn't get much...no, make that 'any'...studying done. at the rate i'm going, looks like i gotta pull out a miracle in the next two days. good thing it's just a few pages...and i've already done half my research. nothing new though. in college, i was the king of two week papers; i lived in the library and computer lab for two weeks and usually cranked out 15-20 page term papers on subjects such as 'False Face Masks of the Iroquois Indians,' 'The Repatriation of Cambodian Refugees in Northeastern Thailand', 'Discrimination and Exploitation of Nicaraguan Indigenous Populations', 'Distinctions of Koobi Fora Hominids: Do KNM-ER 1470 and KNM-ER 1813 really fit into Homo habilis classification?' or 'Toniná: The Non-Collapse of a Terminal Classic Power in the Chiapan Lowlands.'
it's funny looking back now on this stuff now because it shows that either i was a possessed student, or churning out those papers was more traumatizing than i thought. i couldn't even imagine putting in the necessary time now. i guess fear always lit the motivational fires under my ass ;)
what's crazy is that those 'scared shitless' papers were actually pretty good; i read some of the stuff now and say, "WTF...I wrote that?!? no way!" i'm serious...look at my recent blog topics: spice drops, tired feet, cheap airfares...such profound material. but...you know what? i'm a happier blogger for it. power to the gummi bears...your tootsies deserve Dr. Scholls...all hail to weekend airline specials...and i really need to go to bed because all this drivel ain't makin' NO sense whatsoever...even at 2:52 AM.
laterzzzzz...
Monday, March 22, 2004
Friday, March 19, 2004
mmmm....
spice drops. ya gotta love em'. they're like gumdrops on acid. really, aren't we all used to designated colors and flavors for some candy? red=cherry...orange=...yellow=lemon...green=lime...etc.?
well, (Brach's) spice drops have six flavors. green=spearmint...white=wintergreen...red=licorice...orange is still orange...yellow=cinnamon...purple=clove. sure, it doesn't make sense when you think of fruity colors (like Starburst), but who cares? they are SOOO good...
well, (Brach's) spice drops have six flavors. green=spearmint...white=wintergreen...red=licorice...orange is still orange...yellow=cinnamon...purple=clove. sure, it doesn't make sense when you think of fruity colors (like Starburst), but who cares? they are SOOO good...
oh yeah...
we're going to Dallas next weekend to see Lois' sister and husband before they embark on a five month RV trip through western Canada and Alaska. we wanted to go this weekend (since they're having a huge BBQ), but no one was gonna put their fares on sale for the end of spring break...that's for sure.
so, instead of forking out $400 for fares this weekend, we got some specials for next saturday on United for $148 each.
btw, American just started a sale to Puerto Rico. Denver to San Juan for $225. that's a helluva deal considering that fare is usually around $500. in fact, lois and i paid around $600 when we went six years ago...
so, instead of forking out $400 for fares this weekend, we got some specials for next saturday on United for $148 each.
btw, American just started a sale to Puerto Rico. Denver to San Juan for $225. that's a helluva deal considering that fare is usually around $500. in fact, lois and i paid around $600 when we went six years ago...
what else?
school is going pretty well. we're moving quickly and learning a lot. just two more weeks and i can be an unemployed tour guide...but at least i'll be certified ;)
can't wait to get back to some fieldwork in April. charlie (my boss) is in the Philippines for another couple weeks. sigh... so want to get away. i had a chance to dig in Portugal last summer at some Roman period sites. i should have bitten the bullet and done it. oh well... we'll see what this summer has in store for me after we get back.
can't wait to get back to some fieldwork in April. charlie (my boss) is in the Philippines for another couple weeks. sigh... so want to get away. i had a chance to dig in Portugal last summer at some Roman period sites. i should have bitten the bullet and done it. oh well... we'll see what this summer has in store for me after we get back.
already...
been nearly a week since i last blogged. sorry. i've had lotsa things to say and to think about, i just haven't been in the mood to type. bleah.
well, since this is all going around...
Name four bad habits you have:
1. putting things off until the last minute
2. keeping my feelings all bottled up inside
3. not returning phone calls promptly
4. neglecting my blog
Name four things that you wish you had:
1. a miraculously fixed car
2. millions of dollars to use on my friends
3. thousands of dollars to use on myself ;)
4. a new computer
Name three scents you love:
1. lilacs in bloom
2. magnolia
3. Xeryus cologne
Name two things you'd never wear:
1. a toupee
2. orange or brown colored clothing
Name four things you have done today:
1. cleaned the bathroom
2. taken off a couple storm windows
3. organized my large bookcase
4. made dinner
Name four of your favorite things to do:
1. travel!!!!!!!!!!!!
2. listen to music
3. go out for ethnic food
4. shoot a little pool or snooker...(tie)...look for bargains at the bookstore
Name the last 4 things you have bought:
1. a parking space (had to feed the meter ;)
2. food
3. socks
4. car repairs
Name four things you regularly drink: (not counting water)
1. soft drinks (Dr. Pepper, Coke)
2. tea
3. hot chocolate
4. alcohol...although not regularly
Last time you cried?
last summer...although i tear up at the movies, sometimes real good
Last thing you laughed at?
watching Buddy Ebsen dance in Broadway Melody of 1938
What's in your cd player?
which one? the carousel has pretty much 80's metal (i get on these kicks) and ABC's Greatest Hits in my car.
What color socks are you wearing?
white...which is 80-90% of the time
What's under your bed?
surprisingly, nothing.
What time did you wake up today?
late...'bout noon
Current hair?
needing a wash and cut
Current worry?
how our trip to Spain will be in May and how my parents' health
If you could play an instrument?
drums...piano...guitar...trombone...in that order
Favorite color?
probably blue or red
How tall are you?
just under 6' without shoes
Favorite season?
late spring...days are getting longer!!!
well, since this is all going around...
Name four bad habits you have:
1. putting things off until the last minute
2. keeping my feelings all bottled up inside
3. not returning phone calls promptly
4. neglecting my blog
Name four things that you wish you had:
1. a miraculously fixed car
2. millions of dollars to use on my friends
3. thousands of dollars to use on myself ;)
4. a new computer
Name three scents you love:
1. lilacs in bloom
2. magnolia
3. Xeryus cologne
Name two things you'd never wear:
1. a toupee
2. orange or brown colored clothing
Name four things you have done today:
1. cleaned the bathroom
2. taken off a couple storm windows
3. organized my large bookcase
4. made dinner
Name four of your favorite things to do:
1. travel!!!!!!!!!!!!
2. listen to music
3. go out for ethnic food
4. shoot a little pool or snooker...(tie)...look for bargains at the bookstore
Name the last 4 things you have bought:
1. a parking space (had to feed the meter ;)
2. food
3. socks
4. car repairs
Name four things you regularly drink: (not counting water)
1. soft drinks (Dr. Pepper, Coke)
2. tea
3. hot chocolate
4. alcohol...although not regularly
Last time you cried?
last summer...although i tear up at the movies, sometimes real good
Last thing you laughed at?
watching Buddy Ebsen dance in Broadway Melody of 1938
What's in your cd player?
which one? the carousel has pretty much 80's metal (i get on these kicks) and ABC's Greatest Hits in my car.
What color socks are you wearing?
white...which is 80-90% of the time
What's under your bed?
surprisingly, nothing.
What time did you wake up today?
late...'bout noon
Current hair?
needing a wash and cut
Current worry?
how our trip to Spain will be in May and how my parents' health
If you could play an instrument?
drums...piano...guitar...trombone...in that order
Favorite color?
probably blue or red
How tall are you?
just under 6' without shoes
Favorite season?
late spring...days are getting longer!!!
Saturday, March 13, 2004
tired...
footies.
spent the first half of my day at the airport, on a school tour. we split into two groups and found out some of the intricacies of DIA. funny how you take people to the airport, pick 'em up, or go through on your travels, and miss a lot of things. sure, you know where to queue up in line, where to grab a bite, and where the restrooms are, but...did you know that the main terminal (Jeppesen) is three football fields long? or that the multicolored granite in the floor comes from India (red), Texas (speckled pink), Africa (black), and Italy (speckled white)? how about the control tower? the FAA control tower is 327' high. what about the cost of the airport? it initially was priced out to be around $2 billion dollars...but ended up costing almost $5 billion. there is a gargoyle perched in a Samsonite suitcase on the east and west ends (in the middle, on the fifth level, near baggage claim) that silently watch over the travelers, protecting them on their voyage. oodles of things that too many people miss because they're talking on their damn cell phones or looking for their kids whose hands they should have been holding onto in the first place...
after the two hour tour, we had about an hour and a half for lunch before we were to meet in front of the veterans memorial obelisk across the street from the state capitol. and from there, we suffered through a walking tour of downtown. our tour guide was very knowledgeable, but to the point of being verbose. by the time i decided to bolt, 1/3 of the students had already gone home; my footies had pounded enough granite and pavement for the day. i wonder how much longer the stalwarts lasted...whew.
even though the spiel of downtown tour was getting long in the tooth, at least it gave me a good idea how NOT to give a tour ;) the man was spouting out names that people could care less about...i think he needs to bone up on some architectural styles instead of giving glaring generalities...you need some cool details or saucier stories. ah well...maybe it's generational too. the guy was probably 75 and still living in the 50's ;)
glad the day is over though. got a little time to blog and put my feet up...ahhhhhh.
spent the first half of my day at the airport, on a school tour. we split into two groups and found out some of the intricacies of DIA. funny how you take people to the airport, pick 'em up, or go through on your travels, and miss a lot of things. sure, you know where to queue up in line, where to grab a bite, and where the restrooms are, but...did you know that the main terminal (Jeppesen) is three football fields long? or that the multicolored granite in the floor comes from India (red), Texas (speckled pink), Africa (black), and Italy (speckled white)? how about the control tower? the FAA control tower is 327' high. what about the cost of the airport? it initially was priced out to be around $2 billion dollars...but ended up costing almost $5 billion. there is a gargoyle perched in a Samsonite suitcase on the east and west ends (in the middle, on the fifth level, near baggage claim) that silently watch over the travelers, protecting them on their voyage. oodles of things that too many people miss because they're talking on their damn cell phones or looking for their kids whose hands they should have been holding onto in the first place...
after the two hour tour, we had about an hour and a half for lunch before we were to meet in front of the veterans memorial obelisk across the street from the state capitol. and from there, we suffered through a walking tour of downtown. our tour guide was very knowledgeable, but to the point of being verbose. by the time i decided to bolt, 1/3 of the students had already gone home; my footies had pounded enough granite and pavement for the day. i wonder how much longer the stalwarts lasted...whew.
even though the spiel of downtown tour was getting long in the tooth, at least it gave me a good idea how NOT to give a tour ;) the man was spouting out names that people could care less about...i think he needs to bone up on some architectural styles instead of giving glaring generalities...you need some cool details or saucier stories. ah well...maybe it's generational too. the guy was probably 75 and still living in the 50's ;)
glad the day is over though. got a little time to blog and put my feet up...ahhhhhh.
Friday, March 12, 2004
so lazy...
here it is, late in the afternoon and i haven't done a damn thing except read the paper, played on the computer, had a cookie (mmm...Pim's orange filled), and downed a couple glasses of water. i really need to be getting out the door - since the weather is so nice - and heading over to the bank...or to Home Depot (to get some keys redone)...or both.
nothing too exciting over the past week, especially in my blogs. i should've blogged over the weekend, since i actually did some things ;)
although it took me about five days, i finally got over the soreness (mebbe i was too sore to type...heh) that came with bowling six games at PCL's 'bowl-a-thon' that they did to raise money for Junior Achievement. now, it really isn't a bowl-a-thon per se, since you only get to bowl for three hours on a team of four or five people. if you have the latter, you'd have to bowl pretty fast to get all three games in. anyway, it's a nationwide annual event that raises money ($500,000 locally) for a good cause.
oh, how was i able to bowl six games? well, susie (my sister) was on a team in the adjacent lane and i usually bowl (some or all) for her; neck surgery a few years ago effectively ended her bowling days. it was a lotta fun though. i thought i did quite well (all my scores were between 149-180). not bad for a guy who bowls once a year :)
yesterday, i was thinking how much fun it would be to join a bowling league again. or a pool league. why do billiards/bowling leagues take place in a smoky environ...bleah.
will blog more later...
lois got tix to tonight's Millie show from the p/r guy at PCL...six of 'em...and in the mayor's box. wonder if we can throw objects...it'll be like friday nights at rocky horror ;)
nothing too exciting over the past week, especially in my blogs. i should've blogged over the weekend, since i actually did some things ;)
although it took me about five days, i finally got over the soreness (mebbe i was too sore to type...heh) that came with bowling six games at PCL's 'bowl-a-thon' that they did to raise money for Junior Achievement. now, it really isn't a bowl-a-thon per se, since you only get to bowl for three hours on a team of four or five people. if you have the latter, you'd have to bowl pretty fast to get all three games in. anyway, it's a nationwide annual event that raises money ($500,000 locally) for a good cause.
oh, how was i able to bowl six games? well, susie (my sister) was on a team in the adjacent lane and i usually bowl (some or all) for her; neck surgery a few years ago effectively ended her bowling days. it was a lotta fun though. i thought i did quite well (all my scores were between 149-180). not bad for a guy who bowls once a year :)
yesterday, i was thinking how much fun it would be to join a bowling league again. or a pool league. why do billiards/bowling leagues take place in a smoky environ...bleah.
will blog more later...
lois got tix to tonight's Millie show from the p/r guy at PCL...six of 'em...and in the mayor's box. wonder if we can throw objects...it'll be like friday nights at rocky horror ;)
Tuesday, March 09, 2004
kinda quiet...
around here. school started yesterday and certainly not with a bang. of course, what can one expect with the first day anyway?
there are 16 people in the tour guide class - 10 women and six men. i think i'm the youngest person in there. most of the students are in nearing retirement and are looking for a part-time outlet. really diverse backgrounds...a few travel industry people, a couple are teachers, one hairdresser, a Rocky Flats employee, a couple retired, and even the curator of geology at the museum of nature and science.
our guest speaker last night was Gully Stanford, who used to be the Director of Public Relations at the center of performing arts (DCPA). man, this guy embodies the giddy enthusiasm for visiting Denver; he should be the Ambassador of Denver Tourism. i mean, i was born and raised here, and i don't have half of the happiness to share my views, experiences, and history of the city. Gully is the Denver Tourism Energizer Bunny...and he's an Irish guy who only moved to the states in the early 80's!!!
wanna blog more, but i gotta get ready for class. tonight, our guest speaker is a tour company owner...guess i'd better comb my hair, tuck in my shirt, and use deodorant ;)
there are 16 people in the tour guide class - 10 women and six men. i think i'm the youngest person in there. most of the students are in nearing retirement and are looking for a part-time outlet. really diverse backgrounds...a few travel industry people, a couple are teachers, one hairdresser, a Rocky Flats employee, a couple retired, and even the curator of geology at the museum of nature and science.
our guest speaker last night was Gully Stanford, who used to be the Director of Public Relations at the center of performing arts (DCPA). man, this guy embodies the giddy enthusiasm for visiting Denver; he should be the Ambassador of Denver Tourism. i mean, i was born and raised here, and i don't have half of the happiness to share my views, experiences, and history of the city. Gully is the Denver Tourism Energizer Bunny...and he's an Irish guy who only moved to the states in the early 80's!!!
wanna blog more, but i gotta get ready for class. tonight, our guest speaker is a tour company owner...guess i'd better comb my hair, tuck in my shirt, and use deodorant ;)
Friday, March 05, 2004
would you like...
an extra side of klutz with yer order, sir?
shhh-eeee-yit!
there are six or seven frozen dinners that are languishing in the freezer. why? because i've been trying to be good with a changed diet. no longer can i come upstairs for a surreptitious pot pie...no more to frozen burritos that ooze nuclear cheese and 30 grams of fat in just one five ounce serving. no. lois has lost 20 lbs. and i may as well try to drop half that before we go to Spain.
so...all i can say is that the devil made me do it.
huh?
what did he make you do?
dammit, he called me over to the freezer and made me heat up Michelina's Noodles Stroganoff.
no harm done, right?
you need to 'cheat', i mean, 'treat' yourself once in a while...
okay. so instead of throwing out all that evil goodness in the freezer, i let it call me like the Sirens, beckoning Jason and the Argonauts...come to your doom!
anyway, you know what i'm talking about, right? those rectangular boxes that you have to vent when you cook 'em? yeah...yeah. lift up a corner of the box, cook for x minutes, take out and stir, and put it back in the microwave for another minute. when it's done, let it stand for another minute or two. CAUTION! CONTENTS MAY BE HOT! no shit...
well, i had just pulled the box outta the zapper...pivoted...and headed towards the breakfast nook, when (wouldn't ya know it) the slippery fokker whizzes out of my hands and lands squarely upside down on the carpet. heh for you, but not for me.
this is the same carpet that lois would kick some ass over. it's off limits for the dogs unless we're in there too. people who walk over there with shoes on get double daggers in their reproductive organs and eyes (nah...it's not that bad, but you get the gist of it ;)
so in a total panic, i hurriedly scoop up the stroganoff pile in record time with my fingers (it was SO freakin' hot) and a large spoon. not wanting the light brown spot to set, i rushed over to the kitchen sink and got the spray bottle that has the magic solution for dog accident removal. and with about ten paper towels, i got it all up...without even a slight smudge. whew! luckily, this carpet isn't all white. rather, it has some light rust and brown accents in it.
oh, and btw, i ate the stuff. after all, the three second rule applied, right? moreover, it was still hot. i'm just wondering if that's how it really tastes or if the seasoning was enhanced some by shoe dirt, dog butt, and woolen threads...hmmm.
guess i'll have to visit the Sirens again and pull another box out...i just gotsta know ;)
shhh-eeee-yit!
there are six or seven frozen dinners that are languishing in the freezer. why? because i've been trying to be good with a changed diet. no longer can i come upstairs for a surreptitious pot pie...no more to frozen burritos that ooze nuclear cheese and 30 grams of fat in just one five ounce serving. no. lois has lost 20 lbs. and i may as well try to drop half that before we go to Spain.
so...all i can say is that the devil made me do it.
huh?
what did he make you do?
dammit, he called me over to the freezer and made me heat up Michelina's Noodles Stroganoff.
no harm done, right?
you need to 'cheat', i mean, 'treat' yourself once in a while...
okay. so instead of throwing out all that evil goodness in the freezer, i let it call me like the Sirens, beckoning Jason and the Argonauts...come to your doom!
anyway, you know what i'm talking about, right? those rectangular boxes that you have to vent when you cook 'em? yeah...yeah. lift up a corner of the box, cook for x minutes, take out and stir, and put it back in the microwave for another minute. when it's done, let it stand for another minute or two. CAUTION! CONTENTS MAY BE HOT! no shit...
well, i had just pulled the box outta the zapper...pivoted...and headed towards the breakfast nook, when (wouldn't ya know it) the slippery fokker whizzes out of my hands and lands squarely upside down on the carpet. heh for you, but not for me.
this is the same carpet that lois would kick some ass over. it's off limits for the dogs unless we're in there too. people who walk over there with shoes on get double daggers in their reproductive organs and eyes (nah...it's not that bad, but you get the gist of it ;)
so in a total panic, i hurriedly scoop up the stroganoff pile in record time with my fingers (it was SO freakin' hot) and a large spoon. not wanting the light brown spot to set, i rushed over to the kitchen sink and got the spray bottle that has the magic solution for dog accident removal. and with about ten paper towels, i got it all up...without even a slight smudge. whew! luckily, this carpet isn't all white. rather, it has some light rust and brown accents in it.
oh, and btw, i ate the stuff. after all, the three second rule applied, right? moreover, it was still hot. i'm just wondering if that's how it really tastes or if the seasoning was enhanced some by shoe dirt, dog butt, and woolen threads...hmmm.
guess i'll have to visit the Sirens again and pull another box out...i just gotsta know ;)
Thursday, March 04, 2004
but there's no window...
i've been thinking about possibly blogging once a week with a travel story. i think i could scrape up 42 stories (to finish out the year), but they won't all be of 'wow' quality. in fact, i don't think i even have ten (or even five) 'wow' quality, so i'll hafta pace myself. no, we'll stick to happy, sad, strange, and funny. you'll have to bear with me regarding the location because the majority of the stories will probably be from Mexico, since i've visited there the most; the 42 stories will be spread amongst the following locations...
Mexico...been there 13 times...in 17 states...through 42 cities/towns (could just do mexico!)
Belize...3
Guatemala...3
Honduras...2
Peru...2
Costa Rica...1
Bolivia...1
and assorted U.S. cities, such as San Francisco, Chicago, Washington D.C., Clearwater Beach (FL), San Juan (PR), NYC, or Minneapolis...
i'll try to make a list that i can check off for the stories. i'm not even sure if all you guys would be interested in these tales; it'd be worse if i accidentally repeated myself.
so, let's meet here every wednesday...you can gather 'round the fire...bring yer junk food and beverages...and i'll try to weave a tale or two ;)
btw, the title of the post refers to a hotel in San Ignacio, Belize. i had never stayed in a room without a window before. it was at the Hotel Eva...pink rooms...eerie lights that made the walls look orange...electric showerheads. it was 1991 and my first trip out of the states. the streets were dark, filled with curious people wanting to get a look at the blond gal in our group. being asian was not a novelty... no, i guess (back then) redhead and blonde visitors to Belize usually attracted the most attention. some of the people we encountered were fascinated by fair complexion and different colored hair. they all wanted to touch the yellow and red hair, since most Belizeans have coarse or curly black hair.
funny that this western Belizean town had little infrastructure geared towards tourism. nothing even remotely fancy. you would think that you could escape everything, it seemed so isolated. in fact, i almost believed this too until i walked down the stairs and caught a glimpse of the TV in the lobby. the owners of the hotel were watching coverage on the first gulf war. ah, you have escaped nothing if you're in the vicinity of a television, right?
well, i sat down and watched a couple commercials touting american products. and right before i got up, the news resumed. well, i'll be damned... there i was, 1900 miles away from home...and i was watching a Belizean tv...tuned in on KCNC, which is Channel 4 in Denver!!! that hotel had one helluva satellite dish ;) suffice to say, San Ignacio was as remote (pun intended) as you could get from Denver...
Mexico...been there 13 times...in 17 states...through 42 cities/towns (could just do mexico!)
Belize...3
Guatemala...3
Honduras...2
Peru...2
Costa Rica...1
Bolivia...1
and assorted U.S. cities, such as San Francisco, Chicago, Washington D.C., Clearwater Beach (FL), San Juan (PR), NYC, or Minneapolis...
i'll try to make a list that i can check off for the stories. i'm not even sure if all you guys would be interested in these tales; it'd be worse if i accidentally repeated myself.
so, let's meet here every wednesday...you can gather 'round the fire...bring yer junk food and beverages...and i'll try to weave a tale or two ;)
btw, the title of the post refers to a hotel in San Ignacio, Belize. i had never stayed in a room without a window before. it was at the Hotel Eva...pink rooms...eerie lights that made the walls look orange...electric showerheads. it was 1991 and my first trip out of the states. the streets were dark, filled with curious people wanting to get a look at the blond gal in our group. being asian was not a novelty... no, i guess (back then) redhead and blonde visitors to Belize usually attracted the most attention. some of the people we encountered were fascinated by fair complexion and different colored hair. they all wanted to touch the yellow and red hair, since most Belizeans have coarse or curly black hair.
funny that this western Belizean town had little infrastructure geared towards tourism. nothing even remotely fancy. you would think that you could escape everything, it seemed so isolated. in fact, i almost believed this too until i walked down the stairs and caught a glimpse of the TV in the lobby. the owners of the hotel were watching coverage on the first gulf war. ah, you have escaped nothing if you're in the vicinity of a television, right?
well, i sat down and watched a couple commercials touting american products. and right before i got up, the news resumed. well, i'll be damned... there i was, 1900 miles away from home...and i was watching a Belizean tv...tuned in on KCNC, which is Channel 4 in Denver!!! that hotel had one helluva satellite dish ;) suffice to say, San Ignacio was as remote (pun intended) as you could get from Denver...
now i've done it...
i have finally enrolled in Tour Guide school...which starts Monday...eep! I don't know why I'm scared though. I seem to have no problem with dragging all you guys into my little la-la world of travel, right?
it's cold and windy outside. the snow is wet and heavy, typical spring snow. i am SO ready for rain and warmer temperatures...
it's cold and windy outside. the snow is wet and heavy, typical spring snow. i am SO ready for rain and warmer temperatures...
10 to 1...
odds? nah. the list that has been going around for the past few days...
Ten movies you'd watch over and over:
Shall We Dance?
Central Station
Before Night Falls
Delicatessen
Midnight Cowboy
Billy Elliot
Simon Birch
The Grifters
Lilo & Stitch
Evil Dead II: Dead By Dawn
Nine people you enjoy the company of:
Lois
Anyone in my family
Antonio
Cindy
Clara
Barb
J
Mike
My blogging 'family'...even if the relationship is electronic ;)
Eight things you're wearing:
contacts
sandals
two pinky rings
long sleeved shirt
t-shirt
sweatpants
undies
watch
Seven things on your mind:
Dena's initial diagnosis of MS
My poor car
Enrolling for Tour Guide school
My parents' health
Finding a job w/ benefits
Visiting one of my high school Spanish teachers
My trip to Spain in May
Six objects you touch every day:
Keyboard
Eating utensils
Dishes
TV Remote
Stereo Remote
Toothbrush
Five things you do everyday:
Read the newspaper
Sleep
Get on the computer
Listen to music
Brush my teeth
Four bands or musical artists that you couldn't live without:
Swing Out Sister
Ella Fitzgerald
Jimi Hendrix
Antonio Carlos Jobim
Three of your favorite songs of the moment:
"That's The Way It Goes" by Swing Out Sister
"Something's Gotta Give" by Ella Fitzgerald
"Flying High Again" by Ozzy Osbourne
Two people have influenced your life the most:
Two of my brothers...Steve and Sandy
One person who has been nice to you today:
The mail carrier
Ten movies you'd watch over and over:
Shall We Dance?
Central Station
Before Night Falls
Delicatessen
Midnight Cowboy
Billy Elliot
Simon Birch
The Grifters
Lilo & Stitch
Evil Dead II: Dead By Dawn
Nine people you enjoy the company of:
Lois
Anyone in my family
Antonio
Cindy
Clara
Barb
J
Mike
My blogging 'family'...even if the relationship is electronic ;)
Eight things you're wearing:
contacts
sandals
two pinky rings
long sleeved shirt
t-shirt
sweatpants
undies
watch
Seven things on your mind:
Dena's initial diagnosis of MS
My poor car
Enrolling for Tour Guide school
My parents' health
Finding a job w/ benefits
Visiting one of my high school Spanish teachers
My trip to Spain in May
Six objects you touch every day:
Keyboard
Eating utensils
Dishes
TV Remote
Stereo Remote
Toothbrush
Five things you do everyday:
Read the newspaper
Sleep
Get on the computer
Listen to music
Brush my teeth
Four bands or musical artists that you couldn't live without:
Swing Out Sister
Ella Fitzgerald
Jimi Hendrix
Antonio Carlos Jobim
Three of your favorite songs of the moment:
"That's The Way It Goes" by Swing Out Sister
"Something's Gotta Give" by Ella Fitzgerald
"Flying High Again" by Ozzy Osbourne
Two people have influenced your life the most:
Two of my brothers...Steve and Sandy
One person who has been nice to you today:
The mail carrier
replacement killers...
Denny suggested that i look into junkyards for car parts, which is a very good idea. however, it's not necessarily the price of new parts that gets me...it's the cost of labor. unlike some powerlinemen, i'm not mechanically savvy when it comes to an automobile (other than keeping fluids full, tire air pressure, and changing the air filter)...some things are left to a professional. at least if i had a big enough garage and an industrial jack, i'd ask my friend, Justin (who used to build race cars), to teach me a few things.
on a lighter note...
after picking up the guzzler, i went over to Chris' house and hung out for a bit before going to the cheapies and catching Bad S*nta. since i drove, he paid...that was cool.
the movie wasn't great, but it had its moments. BillyBob Thornton has a knack for playing the boozing, easily irritated, store St.Nick...i liked his midget sidekick too. in fact, he almost stole the show with some of his ranting.
i wonder what's opening there this friday, as the pickin's are becoming really thin...we'll see.
i'm also curious to see Thoroughly ModernMillie at the Buell. cindi went to see it already and blogged about it a bit. i'm hoping that we won't be jaded since most of the numbers were written expressly for the stage and only two of the movie soundtrack pieces were retained ('Thoroughly...' and 'Jimmy'). it's too bad because they omitted 'Jazz Baby', which was performed by Carol Channing in the 1967 movie and is a showstopper :)
i saw a picture of the production in last week's paper and the office gals reminded me of the orphanage girls in 'Annie'...not the cool, chic, flapper, look of the movie, which, btw, was nominated for seven academy awards at the 1968 Oscars (including set decoration and costume design). must...not...make...judgments. now i'm wishing that i would've bought tix for the opening week rather than closing night, the wait may kill me ;)
the movie wasn't great, but it had its moments. BillyBob Thornton has a knack for playing the boozing, easily irritated, store St.Nick...i liked his midget sidekick too. in fact, he almost stole the show with some of his ranting.
i wonder what's opening there this friday, as the pickin's are becoming really thin...we'll see.
i'm also curious to see Thoroughly ModernMillie at the Buell. cindi went to see it already and blogged about it a bit. i'm hoping that we won't be jaded since most of the numbers were written expressly for the stage and only two of the movie soundtrack pieces were retained ('Thoroughly...' and 'Jimmy'). it's too bad because they omitted 'Jazz Baby', which was performed by Carol Channing in the 1967 movie and is a showstopper :)
i saw a picture of the production in last week's paper and the office gals reminded me of the orphanage girls in 'Annie'...not the cool, chic, flapper, look of the movie, which, btw, was nominated for seven academy awards at the 1968 Oscars (including set decoration and costume design). must...not...make...judgments. now i'm wishing that i would've bought tix for the opening week rather than closing night, the wait may kill me ;)
humph...
got the car out of the shop today. had a broken rear engine mount replaced and the base idle adjusted...for $390! i couldn't afford getting the springs and brake master replaced, which would probably set me back another $500 total. fu-uck. i guess i shouldn't complain because the car has needed very little work over the last five years. and after 135K miles, things tend to wear out anyway. but still, it's not like i had a spare $900 lying around...grrrr.
for those with children...
tell me if this old chinese chart is truly accurate...or is it just a bunch of hoo-hah?
Tuesday, March 02, 2004
argh...
i've been the total slob the last couple of days. i hate that...bleah.
paper...paper...
and today, i've been nothing but a receipt shredding fool; i let my credit card receipts pile up recently. so now, they're just packing fodder ;)
sorry to do this to you, but i'm gonna give a streamofconsciousness post today...i just don't have enough to say to warrant good sentence structure and transition; two things i sorely lack anyway ;)
what's on my mind?
my car...i'm finally relenting and putting it in the shop tomorrow. i probably should have done it last month, when the steering wheel started shaking on me while i was driving on the highway. well, not only does the car vibrate some on the left side while it's idling, but now there are some knocking underneath my feet while i turn...great! of course, i'm most worried about the cost. having car problems just paralyzes ya sometimes, don't they? i'm crossing my fingers and hoping for the best.
my friend...Dena, has just been diagnosed with MS. when my sister told me yesterday, i teared up and just kept saying, "man, that sucks. why her? i know MANY other people who deserve to be stricken with it." i know i shouldn't be wishing that upon anyone, but she's too good of a person to be hampered by this illness. i'll just think good thoughts and send out positive energy with some flowers and maybe a card of encouragement. i guess some prayer wouldn't hurt...
like denny, i'm thankful of what i have and the people with whom i choose to associate. other than having a pillowcase full of money (big bills, please ;), i wouldn't want it any different...
after all, Ella Fitzgerald is on the stereo...and we all know that she makes everything better, no matter how blue.
tomorrow's a new day and i know the car gods are trying their darndest to make it easy on me ;) and Dena? i wonder if a big hug and flowers will help...
paper...paper...
and today, i've been nothing but a receipt shredding fool; i let my credit card receipts pile up recently. so now, they're just packing fodder ;)
sorry to do this to you, but i'm gonna give a streamofconsciousness post today...i just don't have enough to say to warrant good sentence structure and transition; two things i sorely lack anyway ;)
what's on my mind?
my car...i'm finally relenting and putting it in the shop tomorrow. i probably should have done it last month, when the steering wheel started shaking on me while i was driving on the highway. well, not only does the car vibrate some on the left side while it's idling, but now there are some knocking underneath my feet while i turn...great! of course, i'm most worried about the cost. having car problems just paralyzes ya sometimes, don't they? i'm crossing my fingers and hoping for the best.
my friend...Dena, has just been diagnosed with MS. when my sister told me yesterday, i teared up and just kept saying, "man, that sucks. why her? i know MANY other people who deserve to be stricken with it." i know i shouldn't be wishing that upon anyone, but she's too good of a person to be hampered by this illness. i'll just think good thoughts and send out positive energy with some flowers and maybe a card of encouragement. i guess some prayer wouldn't hurt...
like denny, i'm thankful of what i have and the people with whom i choose to associate. other than having a pillowcase full of money (big bills, please ;), i wouldn't want it any different...
after all, Ella Fitzgerald is on the stereo...and we all know that she makes everything better, no matter how blue.
tomorrow's a new day and i know the car gods are trying their darndest to make it easy on me ;) and Dena? i wonder if a big hug and flowers will help...
Sunday, February 29, 2004
heh...
didn't even lift a finger to cook today. nope. went to lunch with susie before she headed to the office to slog through some extra work. Syrian food was on the menu. Damascus restaurant, to be exact. usually lame-o service, although they're really nice; they just don't have a clue about efficiency. of course, we tend to be a bit harsh, considering our restaurant experience combined is about 55 years...no joke. it may be cultural too. restaurants in Latin America are notoriously lax and very laid back. maybe it's the 'i want it cheap and i want it now' American culture...and it needs to slow the fuck down ;)
anyway, gotta go to Damascus a few times a year. you just cannot find better pita bread or hummus in colorado...really! sure, you can find cheaper Middle Eastern food and places that are open later, but i know of no other place (although i'm sure there is) that has massive pizza ovens, baking some of the most divine pita bread. store bought is so foul compared to this soft, chewy, heaven. the hummus? you just have to try it...so creamy and luscious. it really is too bad that the service has been plain rotten the past few years...oh well.
dinner? went to Applebeez in Tamarac Sq. not the best place, but quite convenient since we were going to see Mystic River at the Madstone (in the mall). food wasn't better than the D...but the service shore was!!!
funny, it seems like once a week, lois has been craving a steak and veggies/salad. and we probably whip it up once a week in the kitchen...but tonight...nah. so she got her 9 oz. sirloin and i opted for their buttermilk fried shrimp. do you ever find that food seems to taste better when you don't have to cook it? granted, you may be able to do better, but it's not worth the hassle. besides, i know i'm my worst critic when it comes to cooking; everyone'll like it while i'm still bitching about what i did wrong.
we made good time at dinner. unlike the colo. blvd. applebeez, which is hopping most of the time, the tamarac store isn't as hectic since there are eight (off the top o' my pointy head) other places to eat in the same vicinity. honestly, if you can't find a place to eat near Tamarac, YOU IS BLIND!
movie was great. i hope that Mr. Robbins and Mr. Penn get those statues later today. the story...the camera angles...the acting...excellent. sure, it's intense, but i bet it's a walk in the park compared to the new movie that some Aussie just put out ;)
sorry to cut it short, but i'm just out of things to say. i think i have to digest the film a bit more to comment further...er... or is it those fifteen fried shrimp? mebbe they're talkin' to me!
anyway, gotta go to Damascus a few times a year. you just cannot find better pita bread or hummus in colorado...really! sure, you can find cheaper Middle Eastern food and places that are open later, but i know of no other place (although i'm sure there is) that has massive pizza ovens, baking some of the most divine pita bread. store bought is so foul compared to this soft, chewy, heaven. the hummus? you just have to try it...so creamy and luscious. it really is too bad that the service has been plain rotten the past few years...oh well.
dinner? went to Applebeez in Tamarac Sq. not the best place, but quite convenient since we were going to see Mystic River at the Madstone (in the mall). food wasn't better than the D...but the service shore was!!!
funny, it seems like once a week, lois has been craving a steak and veggies/salad. and we probably whip it up once a week in the kitchen...but tonight...nah. so she got her 9 oz. sirloin and i opted for their buttermilk fried shrimp. do you ever find that food seems to taste better when you don't have to cook it? granted, you may be able to do better, but it's not worth the hassle. besides, i know i'm my worst critic when it comes to cooking; everyone'll like it while i'm still bitching about what i did wrong.
we made good time at dinner. unlike the colo. blvd. applebeez, which is hopping most of the time, the tamarac store isn't as hectic since there are eight (off the top o' my pointy head) other places to eat in the same vicinity. honestly, if you can't find a place to eat near Tamarac, YOU IS BLIND!
movie was great. i hope that Mr. Robbins and Mr. Penn get those statues later today. the story...the camera angles...the acting...excellent. sure, it's intense, but i bet it's a walk in the park compared to the new movie that some Aussie just put out ;)
sorry to cut it short, but i'm just out of things to say. i think i have to digest the film a bit more to comment further...er... or is it those fifteen fried shrimp? mebbe they're talkin' to me!
Friday, February 27, 2004
life and death...
my yesterday was an overall good...
my mom and eldest sister celebrated their 75th and 46th b-days. cindi even hit the big 5-0 (sounds like it was a blast).
however, i also took my parents to a funeral at Ft. Logan Cemetery. Wong Wah Lui passed away a couple days ago. he was the oldest chinese member of the 'old school' restaurant guys. i guess you could call it a fraternal order of blue collar chinese men who worked/owned restaurants in the denver area in the last 50-60 years. you know, kinda like the tongs...but with a white apron ;)
anyway, Wong Wah was 89. and with his passing, that makes my dad either the oldest or second oldest of the chinese restaurant community. he may be second oldest if Bill Chin (whom we haven't seen since last year) is still alive...
yep. my dad turned 85 last friday. took him to IHOP and watched him eat their rotisserie chicken, chicken noodle soup, and salad w/ blue cheese. it's nice to know that, even though his legs, ears, and heart don't work so good, he still eats well and savors his food; he's still as sharp as a tack and has a helluva sense of humor.
as i mentioned above, my mom is 50% older than cindi ;) this august, mom and dad will celebrate their 57th wedding anniversary. i was meaning to have shared this info on the 14th, but i'm not very good with scheduling...even if i can rant about the perpetual calendar ;)
visiting Ft. Logan today was somewhat of a moving experience for me. i had never been there, nor even witnessed a military funeral service. what moved me wasn't being all those white headstones; i've been to Arlington Nat'l. no, what moved me to some tears and the sniffles was listening to the service and watching the whole procedure (3-gun salute, 13-folded flag, the general military regiment).
of the thirty people in attendance, all were at least 20+ years younger than my father. and watching him salute every time those army guys did, put a lump in my throat. sure, my dad wasn't the only vet present, but he definitely was the 'old guard.'
in the course of my life, i have conversed with dad about his participation in World War II. although he likes to watch war movies, he rarely talks about his experiences.
i don't blame him though. i know my dad was drafted in late 1943 and completed his boot camp in Mississippi. in august of '44, he and his company were deployed to Europe as a radio man. in fact, he landed at Normandy two months after D-Day. to this day, i'm sure he's haunted by the grisly sight of bodies that were still on shore; something he mentions, but won't go into detail - he just shakes his head.
i think the two most vivid memories that my dad has about WWII are selling his rationed cartons of cigarettes (didn't every soldier get two cartons?) in France and nerve wracking guard duty over POWs. staying awake was one thing, but keeping your rifle aimed at another tired and scared soldier, was even worse. oh yeah, Denny, he remembers how grateful he was to not have a defective gas mask when they were doing mustard gas training...eep.
about ten years ago, my brother, Steve, told me the story of what happened to dad at the end of the war. although i'm a little fuzzy on the details, this story occurred sometime in the spring of '45, when the Germans were in a state of panic.
dad was riding on the outside of a tank, with everyone else inside. maybe they drew straws and dad was the odd man out...who knows. anyway, there was a huge flash in the sky. everyone knew that it was a long-range rocket-type (like the tekneecal terms?) thingie...basically something that says 'You're Fu*ked' on the bumper sticker, as it barreled down on yer lame duck ass.
well, the CO ordered everyone out of the tank. sooo, dad jumped first. unfortunately, everyone jumped out and on top of him, effectively breaking his back. the rocket hit and pretty much obliterated everything in the vicinity, including the soldiers on top of dad. drawing the short straw turned out to be a blessing for dad because having a broken back with bodies lying on top of you was still better than being dead.
my dad should have been up for an Oscar at the 1946 Academy Aw*rds for his portrayal of a dead soldier. you see, after (how long though, i don't know) the rocket hit, a German reconaissance team went out to the site and discovered that the WMD had done a doozy on these american GIs. one of them even kicked my dad...in the back...to see if he was dead.
poor dad laid in that field for two days before the Red Cross showed up. they got him to a hospital in France to recover for a couple months. and around the time that the a-bombs were dropped (Aug. 6th and 9th...monday and thursday ;), dad was evac-ed to a military hospital in the U.S. (somewhere in Kansas), where he spent nine months recuperating.
while dad was in this hospital, he was in the care a nurse, named Kathleen. she did a brilliant job with dad, encouraged him, kept his spirits up, etc. she told dad to call her 'Katie' though...to which he gratefully complied. she was so good to him :) dad has never forgotten her...
by the time the summer of '46 rolled around, dad was back in Colorado. he was hanging out and just enjoying the life of a civilian again. however, his dad thought it might be a good time to have him settle down, get married, and raise a family...quite the thing to do after a war ;)
so, the next year, dad went back to China to find a bride. now, no scientific procedure there...your parents arranged whom you met and married. i'm not sure how many gals my dad had met before he chose mom as his bride, but i do know that dad was mom's sixth suitor. and in August '47, they were married.
not much longer, so bear with me...
in January '48, mom and dad arrived in San Francisco, after three weeks on a boat. they get through immigration and start the paperwork. one of the first questions was, "What's the name of your wife, Mr. Wong?" dad started to say, Hung Yu Yee (which would be totally mangled by the immigration officer), when he stopped and decided to give her an English name. he smiled and said, "Katie." hmmm...i wonder where he got that?
my mom and eldest sister celebrated their 75th and 46th b-days. cindi even hit the big 5-0 (sounds like it was a blast).
however, i also took my parents to a funeral at Ft. Logan Cemetery. Wong Wah Lui passed away a couple days ago. he was the oldest chinese member of the 'old school' restaurant guys. i guess you could call it a fraternal order of blue collar chinese men who worked/owned restaurants in the denver area in the last 50-60 years. you know, kinda like the tongs...but with a white apron ;)
anyway, Wong Wah was 89. and with his passing, that makes my dad either the oldest or second oldest of the chinese restaurant community. he may be second oldest if Bill Chin (whom we haven't seen since last year) is still alive...
yep. my dad turned 85 last friday. took him to IHOP and watched him eat their rotisserie chicken, chicken noodle soup, and salad w/ blue cheese. it's nice to know that, even though his legs, ears, and heart don't work so good, he still eats well and savors his food; he's still as sharp as a tack and has a helluva sense of humor.
as i mentioned above, my mom is 50% older than cindi ;) this august, mom and dad will celebrate their 57th wedding anniversary. i was meaning to have shared this info on the 14th, but i'm not very good with scheduling...even if i can rant about the perpetual calendar ;)
visiting Ft. Logan today was somewhat of a moving experience for me. i had never been there, nor even witnessed a military funeral service. what moved me wasn't being all those white headstones; i've been to Arlington Nat'l. no, what moved me to some tears and the sniffles was listening to the service and watching the whole procedure (3-gun salute, 13-folded flag, the general military regiment).
of the thirty people in attendance, all were at least 20+ years younger than my father. and watching him salute every time those army guys did, put a lump in my throat. sure, my dad wasn't the only vet present, but he definitely was the 'old guard.'
in the course of my life, i have conversed with dad about his participation in World War II. although he likes to watch war movies, he rarely talks about his experiences.
i don't blame him though. i know my dad was drafted in late 1943 and completed his boot camp in Mississippi. in august of '44, he and his company were deployed to Europe as a radio man. in fact, he landed at Normandy two months after D-Day. to this day, i'm sure he's haunted by the grisly sight of bodies that were still on shore; something he mentions, but won't go into detail - he just shakes his head.
i think the two most vivid memories that my dad has about WWII are selling his rationed cartons of cigarettes (didn't every soldier get two cartons?) in France and nerve wracking guard duty over POWs. staying awake was one thing, but keeping your rifle aimed at another tired and scared soldier, was even worse. oh yeah, Denny, he remembers how grateful he was to not have a defective gas mask when they were doing mustard gas training...eep.
about ten years ago, my brother, Steve, told me the story of what happened to dad at the end of the war. although i'm a little fuzzy on the details, this story occurred sometime in the spring of '45, when the Germans were in a state of panic.
dad was riding on the outside of a tank, with everyone else inside. maybe they drew straws and dad was the odd man out...who knows. anyway, there was a huge flash in the sky. everyone knew that it was a long-range rocket-type (like the tekneecal terms?) thingie...basically something that says 'You're Fu*ked' on the bumper sticker, as it barreled down on yer lame duck ass.
well, the CO ordered everyone out of the tank. sooo, dad jumped first. unfortunately, everyone jumped out and on top of him, effectively breaking his back. the rocket hit and pretty much obliterated everything in the vicinity, including the soldiers on top of dad. drawing the short straw turned out to be a blessing for dad because having a broken back with bodies lying on top of you was still better than being dead.
my dad should have been up for an Oscar at the 1946 Academy Aw*rds for his portrayal of a dead soldier. you see, after (how long though, i don't know) the rocket hit, a German reconaissance team went out to the site and discovered that the WMD had done a doozy on these american GIs. one of them even kicked my dad...in the back...to see if he was dead.
poor dad laid in that field for two days before the Red Cross showed up. they got him to a hospital in France to recover for a couple months. and around the time that the a-bombs were dropped (Aug. 6th and 9th...monday and thursday ;), dad was evac-ed to a military hospital in the U.S. (somewhere in Kansas), where he spent nine months recuperating.
while dad was in this hospital, he was in the care a nurse, named Kathleen. she did a brilliant job with dad, encouraged him, kept his spirits up, etc. she told dad to call her 'Katie' though...to which he gratefully complied. she was so good to him :) dad has never forgotten her...
by the time the summer of '46 rolled around, dad was back in Colorado. he was hanging out and just enjoying the life of a civilian again. however, his dad thought it might be a good time to have him settle down, get married, and raise a family...quite the thing to do after a war ;)
so, the next year, dad went back to China to find a bride. now, no scientific procedure there...your parents arranged whom you met and married. i'm not sure how many gals my dad had met before he chose mom as his bride, but i do know that dad was mom's sixth suitor. and in August '47, they were married.
not much longer, so bear with me...
in January '48, mom and dad arrived in San Francisco, after three weeks on a boat. they get through immigration and start the paperwork. one of the first questions was, "What's the name of your wife, Mr. Wong?" dad started to say, Hung Yu Yee (which would be totally mangled by the immigration officer), when he stopped and decided to give her an English name. he smiled and said, "Katie." hmmm...i wonder where he got that?
Thursday, February 26, 2004
well...
it may be time to change my blogskin too. if anything, i could add some photos to the right hand margin...to fill in some space. that may be a good thing. i may tinker around with the order of that side...hmmm.
'course, it may be six months before i'm serious about it ;) there are other things on my plate...and they're gettin' cold! sigh. so why am i just playing with my food when i could be eating it? i'm hungry.
'course, it may be six months before i'm serious about it ;) there are other things on my plate...and they're gettin' cold! sigh. so why am i just playing with my food when i could be eating it? i'm hungry.
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