Wednesday, December 28, 2005

Finally

I finally posted the travel journals I scribbled out when I was in Italy, along with the photos and a few links, in case you're planning to visit Italy or just want to check out some of the stuff we saw.

Look in April 2005 and May 2005.
I also uploaded some of the photos from my Beijing trip in May.

Holy Hand Grenade of Antioch

So my mother and I scuttered around Italy last Spring, and while I was there to tell her about the art, I counted on her to tell me about all the religious iconography, saints' stories, and relics. She was not much help, I'm afraid, but we did get to see quite a few wonderful things in that vein. Today, I stumbled upon this site, which outlines

Where you can venerate
some First Class Relics

I wish I'd had this list before I went. Be sure to consult it when planning your travel.

today

A few random things:
1.) I love Christmas Music. Right now, a few recommendations:
-Christmas With the Rat Pack. I know, it's a bit obvious.
-Esquivel: Merry Xmas From the Space-Age Bachelor Pad
-Klezmonauts: Oy to the World. I just got this a couple of weeks ago, and it is OMIGOD great.


2.) Pass Left, Move Right. Or, if that's too ambiguous for you "Keep Right Except to Pass." I think this "Slower Traffic Keep Right" crap we have in CA leaves too much judgement to be made by idiot drivers. No one wants to think of themselves as slower traffic. Well guess what? You ARE. Beep Beep!


3.) Chocolate for breakfast.


4.) I need ideas: We have about a week in Ireland. Where should we go? We will probably travel sans car.


5.) Paul has the entire week off of work, and I am totally jealous.

Wahoo! $0.00

Tuesday, December 27, 2005

onward

This morning I registered for the Spring semester. Continuation of Intro to Conversational Mandarin. Let's hope I can still stick with it even without Paul's being in the class with me. He was a great help to my actually going through the entire class this Winter.

We watched a Chinese movie last night, and I was able to pick up a few words. Nothing interesting, just little things. I'm not the best student, so it's something, at least. I really want to learn at least a slightly useful amount of Mandarin. I don't want to give up on this, the way I leave so many started and abaondoned projects.

Monday nights, Jan 23-May 15, I am booked.

Thursday, December 22, 2005

Fancy

Wow, I sure did witness a lot of Fancy Driving on the way home from work today. I mean, I know it's raining and all, but, uhhh? Shouldn't *I* be the one with the problem, two wheels and all? Jeebus, drivers are lame.

I would like to personally meet one of these people who pulls into intersections that they know they can't get through, so that when the light changes, no one can move. Some people just need hitting. Well, I can just pick through them, but then you encounter the guy on the other side coming full speed down the wrong side of the road because he assumes that traffic is blocked on that side. (Hello head on collision with a motorcycle) I don't even comprehend where this guy thought he was going. It's fucking raining people, that means you ought to drive BETTER, not WORSE.

Air bags and side impact studies are a terrible thing for darwinism.

My brake light doesn't work today. Who cares, since no one can see me anyway?


I just gave myself an early Christmas present, by setting up my long-ignored IRA to maximize itself automatically from my checking account weekly. Woot.

Wednesday, December 21, 2005

clowns and chap-wearers

We went to see Corteo last night, which I believe brings the number of Cirque du Soleil shows I've seen up to 5.
It was not my favorite. I'd suggest to anyone thinking of finally going to see Cirque du Soleil for the first time, to wait for the next one.

This weekend, we spent Saturday baking cookies at my parents' house. It was fairly successful.

Sunday around 1 or 2pm, Paul and I finally dragged ourselves outside to go "downtown" (this is san JOse we're talking about) for the International Motorcycle Show, which was mostly lame. I knew it was lame as soon as we got to the free motorcycle parking lot and saw a grand total of about 18 bikes. Oh, wa-ahhh, it's RAINING. Even the worst rainstorms didn't keep the motorcycles from coming en masse to the shows a few years ago in San Mateo. Next year, let's just call it the cager-who-wishes-he-rode show.

Inside was pretty limited. Most of the small manufacturers that used to come show their gear are no longer represented. What used to be a good opportunity to check out gear and groups you'd never otherwise find, has now just devolved into a place for all the bike manufacturers to show their new line-ups. But, I can see those for free in the dealerships? It WAS cool to see the new Beemer and the entire husky supermoto lineup (drool) and of course, again, the Aprilia twin-moto. But, yeah. The few vendors were mostly catering to the harley-hosen crowd, with cheap leather and a vast array of polishing products and billet bullshit. I don't know why people love their fringe and chaps so goddam much. Nevermind, since none of those idiots RODE their MOTORCYCLES to the MOTORCYCLE SHOW. Next year's show can just be called the Cagers in Fringe and Chaps Polishing Their Chrome Show. Have fun, guys. Live the dream. Drive your fucking cars, and talk about bike parts you can't afford, nor will you ever use.

I'll be on another all-night ride around California or some crazy shit.

Thursday, December 15, 2005

Lookit me, I'm tough on crime!

So today I called in sick for the second day in a row. they were like “are you on vacation?” Sadly, no, but thanks for discouraging my staying home and keeping me germs away from you.

Being that it’s just before Christmas, I wish I weren’t sick, so I could call in and use my time off for important Christmas things like figuring out what to give the people in my life. What is exactly the right thing to tell you how important you are to me, how well I know you and your quirks and dreams, that I thought of you all year? Shit, I don’t know, in many cases, but the meaning is still there? I thought I would make all the gifts this year, but in the end, didn’t find the time to do that at all. I’m lame. I’ve felt fairly frantic, hardly any down time to just be at home, take care of the things that need to be done.

The Chinese class has been a challenge, and I’m not sure I rose very well to the challenge. I could have been a better student. It’s fucking hard. Tonight it will be over. I’m still not sure what to enroll in for next semester. Conversational Chinese B? Chinese (written and all) A? Something entirely different? I scoped out classes about Islam and American Government, and some ballroom dancing class.

But I think I ought to stick with the Chinese. I don’t want another thing I started but didn’t follow through. I would like to get a strong basic grasp on some of this. But I can’t decide if that needs to include characters or not. That seems like all too much sometimes. Anyone have any suggestions?

I think whatever class I take will be alone. Paul was a great help in getting through the semester, but I don’t think he can fit it in next semester. Besides, there are other things that make more sense for him to take, for his career and all that.



What’s in the news? We put another man to death this week. I can’t say anything new about this that you haven’t already heard before. I’ll just say I don’t believe in the death penalty. It’s barbaric and pointless, and REALLY. FUCKING. EXPENSIVE. I’m a pragmatist at least. If you want to argue about the morality (which is difficult, since I don’t think arguments can change people’s morals) fine, but one thing we do know, is it costs a LOT more to do the death penalty than imprison someone for life. I don’t think Tookie Williams was innocent, and I wince to read that the witnesses to the execution shouted that when they left the execution. I don’t even know that he was “reformed” especially. It’s all media and conjecture. He belonged in prison. But I don’t need the blood on my hands, and the state could sure use the money we’d save by just housing the guy.

But.
But.
WHAT HAPPENED TO THAT “CULTURE OF LIFE” that I heard so much about last year? The entire fucking government gets involved in keeping a vegetable propped up on a feeding tube, and those same people are glad to kill someone else? I do not understand it. Fuck you. Jesus was VERY clear about the death penalty. There are a lot of things that are open to interpretation in the bible, but where is the interpretation in “he who is without sin may cast the first stone?” Where is the interpretation in a story about Jesus coming forth to spare a woman who is about to be stoned to death? There’s no mention of whether she’s reformed or not, that’s not the point. The point is for each of us, not dependent on the criminal, to look into our own hearts and lives, and become more human by treating others with compassion and forgiveness.

Well, anyway, it’s upsetting, but didn’t exactly surprise me. Politicians like to pretend to be tough on crime. I’m curious how killing a man who’s already locked up actually cuts down on crime.

Also in the news this week: a report that SFPD has a really shitty record for dealing with homicide. The homicide rate is up this year. (which may have to do with another story about how the poor are getting left WAY behind in San Francisco, or possibly the story about the appalling conditions in public housing in SF) Meanwhile, SFPD has only made arrests in 20% of homicides. Great job, guys! Now I know SFPD has a lot to do. It’s big ugly city, but we need to get more done here. 20% leaves pretty good odds. It’s better than going to vegas!

The flak about the videos, well, the only thing I find REALLY offensive is the fact that these cops are morons. The FIRST rule of doing stuff you’re not supposed to do, is DON’T TAKE PICTURES. I can’t tell you how many times this has gotten people caught. It’s idiotic to document something that is going to bite you in the ass later. Sorry, but I’ve known that since high school. The videos were borderline offensive (at least what I saw) but what really bothers me is how dumb you are. You’re dumb, and you haven’t arrested any murderers. Please try again.

Monday, December 12, 2005

Not moving after all

which, I guess, is good. Historically, I've never liked change, so I don't know why I was so gung ho about moving. I have a pretty great apartment. I shouldn't be so quick to give it up.

That's right, look on the bright side.

Sunday we went to James and Tara's house in the Santa Cruz mountains for Tara's birthday. They have a very cute house (and BARN) and are super sweet people. Saturday we got a little Christmas shopping done, and I worked at New Wave City at the DNA Lounge at night. Friday, we ran into Daniel at Lanesplitter and went to see some EBR people and actually a bunch of my friends too. Seeing Daniel's house after two years of work really makes me wonder what people are getting into when they buy real estate around here.

Earlier this week, I picked the DRZ up from Paul's house, where it had been sitting for several months. I missed my good bike! We need to go dirt riding, but who has time? Plus I think there's something wrong with the XR again? Something about a seized bolt or something. Anyway, who has time? We have a Chinese final, and our Chinese is bu hao. Tai4 bu4 hao3.
Indeed.

Friday, December 09, 2005

ooh! Lookit me! I'm bored too!

FOUR JOBS YOU'VE HAD IN YOUR LIFE
1. Puke cleaner-upper (I think they called it “Floor Staff?”)
2. Wardrobe Designer
3. Door Girl/Cashier. I don’t care who you know.
4. Assistant Technical Designer (assistant to what exactly, I don’t know)

FOUR MOVIES YOU COULD WATCH OVER AND OVER
1. Freeway
2. Dead Alive
3. Queen Margot
4. The Piano

FOUR CITIES YOU'VE LIVED IN:
1. Fountain Valley, CA
2. San Jose, CA
3. San Francisco, TX
4. um, that’s it.

FOUR TV SHOWS YOU LOVE TO WATCH
1. Simpsons
2. I enjoy Gilmore Girls, I wouldn’t say I love it. But I’ll watch it if it’s on.
3. Shit. Um, Twin Peaks? (I know, but I don’t really watch TV that much)
4. I used to watch Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Xena, when they were on.


FOUR PLACES YOU'VE BEEN ON VACATION:
1. Italy
2. Austin, TX
3. Seattle, WA
4. Wales

FOUR WEBSITES YOU VISIT DAILY:
1. craigslist (I’m looking for an apartment)
2. boingboing (I like stuff)
3. tribe (otherwise how will I know what’s better: Harleys or sportbikes?)
4. sfgate (And various other news sites)

FOUR OF YOUR FAVORITE FOODS:
1. Cupcakes
2. Hummus (middle eastern is my very favorite cuisine)
3. Pizza
4. cheese

FOUR SCHOOLS YOU'VE ATTENDED
1. Academy of Art College
2. Joy of Dance
3. St. Simon and Jude
4. Bellarmine College Preparatory


FOUR PLACES I'D RATHER BE RIGHT NOW:
1. Volterra
2. At Paul’s house petting the cats and drinking beer
3. on Tunitas Creek Road, on my DRZ
4. my grandma’s house

Thursday, December 08, 2005

bu hao

The Chinese is not going great.
Last, week, Paul and I skipped class (our only missed class of the semester) because it was raining and winding too hard, and we were lazy.

This week, there’s no class because the teacher is playing hookie.
Week before last was Thanksgiving holiday.
So, we’re a few weeks without our dear Du Laoshi to tell us zombie stories and insist that she doesn’t eat dog. Or was it that she hadn’t eaten dog yet? I’m not sure. I’ll need another semester to be sure.

We’re supposed to have a conversation about food, drinks, weather and time-based stuff for 6 minutes. Time based stuff is basically, days of the week and things like “last week,” “day after tomorrow,” etc.

We wrote a script and it’s the most retarded conversation you can imagine. It’s pretty funny to imagine that there’s a whole half the world just standing around having the following conversation:

1: You good!
2: Do you live in San Francisco?
1: I do not. I live in Berkeley.
2: Does it rain much in Berkeley.
1: It doesn’t rain much. Do you like cake?
2: I do not like cake. I want one glass of beer.
1: I also want one glass of beer. I study Chinese.
2: What day do you study Chinese?
1: Is you mother fat?
2: My mother is very fat. Is your dad rich?
1: He’s not rich. Please have a cup of coffee.

I mean, from the vocabulary and grammar I have, that’s about as coherent as my conversation can get. Feels a little ridiculous, but then again, what is your Chinese vocabulary? I only know a few things in Cantonese, and none of that is formal or sentence-like.

Anyway, we are somewhat determined, but only inasmuch as it doesn’t interfere with my beer drinking. I don’t know whether we’ll continue next semester. I kind of want to, but it’s also possible that we ought to start from the beginning with a real Chinese class (characters and grammar, not just conversational) but actually, that just sounds even worse.

I wish I wish I wish I had been raised bilingual from a young age. This is totally my parents’ fault.

where you been?

oooh! fun widgets!


create your own visited states map
or check out these Google Hacks.

I may be forgetting something here.







create your own visited countries map
or vertaling Duits Nederlands


I like how going to Beijing just filled in a whole bunch of planet at once.
I've got a lot of places to go.
Next year, Isle of Man, the year after that... Turkey? Germany? China for real? Japan? I don't know, but I'd better get busy.

For Chuckles

My favorite jew biker.
I guess?

Wednesday, December 07, 2005

If I promise to miss you, will you go away? I hear Kansas is cheap.

The house search has been going… well, not at all, really.
There’s a little something wrong with everything I guess. Basically, we don’t make enough money to even rent in the area. I guess. Or there’s too much pickiness.

Things we need and want, in no particular order:
- Garage (need) (garage must be private garage where we can work on bikes and stuff, not shared garage or carport crap.)
-Cat accepted (need)
-Yard (Paul) or deck or patio or something
-In San Francisco (Rebecca- VERY VERY much prefer)
-Near the freeway (both want)
-Not ghetto (i.e. I can walk to the store by myself at night) (Rebecca need)
-Not in the middle of nowhere (i.e. not Alameda) (Rebecca want)
-West of the Bay to be close to the SC hills (Rebecca want)
-East of the Bay to be close to work (Paul want)
-If it’s in East Bay, would like near BART for occasional commutes (Rebecca want)
-“East Bay” does not include places like “Concord,” “Martinez,” Pleasanton,” etc. Those are NOT the fucking East Bay. (both agreed)
-Dishwasher (Paul want)
-Laundry (Paul, mostly, but it would be nice for me too. I have an unnatural hatred of laundromats, but am resigned to them all the same)

Here’s my ideal: A beautiful craftsman-style home with attached two-car garage in Potrero Hill (North Slope), with yard and cat-friendly. Alternatively, would also like a SoMA split-level loft with attached garage and deck-garden in the back. See, I’m flexible?

So, now we’re looking at Albany, which, as I’ve learned, is a micro-city just north of Berkeley. It’s close to where Paul lives currently.

I keep thinking that I can compromise, and live in the East Bay. OK, I can do this. But every time I go to Paul’s house after work (worse now that it’s dark during the commute, although I can’t figure out WHY) I get stuck in that horrible East Bay traffic I’ve always hated. What is it about the East Bay? There’s nothing there, so why is the traffic so bad? Splitting lanes on the bridge is usually OK, I mean, whatever, but every fucking day? It’s gonna get old real fast. I’m a very impatient person. And I keep thinking, if I’m doing this every day, it’s just a matter of time before one of these mindless shits hits me in the quest to get three feet ahead in the next lane over. (Listen, you dumb single-occupant car fuck, if you want to get there faster, LOSE THE GODDAM CAGE) So, yeah, just a matter of time, right? And the rain. Yes, I have split the bridge in the rain. I hate it. God, and when it’s windy? Oh, that fucking sucks. Really. Sucks. Gusts can get up to like 50mph and in a downpour, when you’re forced to ride at like 20mph by the cages (pass left, drive right is a lost concept on the bridge no matter what the weather is) it can be nearly impossible to control your bike. Let alone lanesplit. Not really much of an option in those conditions. So the nice weather days would suck, and the shit weather days would be fucking horrible.

Ugh.
Thinking about it fills me with yuck.

But there has to be some sort of compromise. There are benefits too for consolidating our lives. More time, less frantic. Sharing a place means we could each get more stuff done in our lives while still seeing each other. I would be living with both of my bikes. We’ll cook more and eat out less, probably. Simplify. Make room and time for the things we’re both neglecting.

But the housing market is ridiculous. So, it’s still a no-go.

Next installment: perhaps a discussion of my theory on “polyamory” is so popular in San Francisco. In short: it’s the only way to afford the housing. Two incomes NOT ENOUGH!

Tuesday, December 06, 2005

Vegas, except this time it was actually FUN

So, I've been neglecting this blog terribly. Why?
I still haven't written up the Vegas trip. OK, well, before I forget completely, here goes:

Flew in Saturday around noon or so and went for lunch in the Venetian. Some Mexican joint on the canal. It was OK, and it was nice to sit and observe the people who paid for gondola rides. Some of the gondoliers were good singers, some sucked. We watched a couple get married on a gondola, which was mostly funny because the groom was smacking on gum the entire time.

After lunch, we grabbed some Guinness at the store since all the bars were serving crap like Budweiser and Coors, and proceeded to our hotel, The Imperial Palace.
This place is cool because you get to stay right in the middle of the strip without paying the $300+ per night, or more, that the other central strip hotels cost. How much time do you really spend in your room anyway? How MANY flat screen TV's do you REALLY need in your room? (Wynn) Do you actually need a sunken living room? (Venetian) Are you planning to invite fifty people to a party in your gigantic bathroom? (Bellagio)

The Imperial Palace is no worse than a Days Inn or something, once you get to the elevators. (you have to walk through a loud smokey casino, surprise, surprise) And it cost $168 for two nights on a weekend, while being right in the middle of everything.

GOOD things about the Imperial Palace?


1.) The hotel is old enough that the windows actually OPEN, and even onto balconies (new hotels aren't allowed, you're just sealed in) Paul took advantage of this by making paper airplanes of the magazines, and flying Siegfried and Roy around in the courtyard.








2.) The Imperial Palace is home to a pit of DEALERTAINERS. I don't gamble, so I don't know or care whether this was a good place to gamble or whatever, but I got some wonderful free Vegas Bullshit. The dealers in this pit are all celebrity "impersonators." I use that term loosely because they were terrible, and half the time you couldn't tell who they were supposed to be until they got up (which they did every few minutes) and started belting out a song by their victim celebrity. I mean, so what if your a short black dude? You can still be a Brittany Spears impersonator if you want, apparently.
It was really cool.

After getting my drink on in the hotel, we started out to wander the strip and make our way to the Orleans. Snaked a ride on the free shuttle and found ourselves off the strip. The Orleans has an "Irish Pub" (everything in Vegas deserves airquotes, since everything is so fucking surreal and fake) so we settled in for Guinness and pizza while we waited. It took forever, but we got good and drunk, thankfully, because all the arena had for us was Budweiser again.

And then, SUNDAY SUNDAY SUNDAY, we were there!


OK, really, it was Saturday Saturday Saturday, but it doesn't sound the same.
Endurocross.
Was.
The.
Coolest.
Race.
EVER.

I bought tickets for the whole seat, but I only needed the edge. Well, and the cup holder.
The track was INSANE. Sitting there waiting for the lights to go down, I'm like, uhhh, this CANNOT work.

OH, but it did. Top riders from many different places, many different types of races (supercross riders, motocross riders, trials riders, etc) competed on a track they had been given no practice time on, a track that had GIANT logs, woops, a water crossing, a rock section, a monster truck tire "jump," horizontal tires, parallel logs, and, um, rubber duckies.

Well, I know, and I asked folks if they wanted to go, they didn't show interest. You all missed the fuck out. This was SO GODDAM FUN.

It seemed like every rider crashed in every single lap. A race like this is cool because you never know what is going to happen. The front guy will become the back guy, and then back to front again and then crash three feet from finish. So much fun to watch.

There was regular occurrence of multi-bike pile-ups in the giant log section which was right in front of us. Here, even without wrecking into other riders, most guys would lose their shit and have to get off the bike (if they hadn't already ended up off) and coax their machines over the "logs" while standing next to them feathering the clutch. Sometimes they would get hit from behind while doing this.

The winner was from Isle of Man, and appeared to have quite nice teeth for a Manx-man.

I took about a million pictures, and even some crap video, which is cool to see how the track really ran. I got my drink on and yelled. It was a great time.

We snuck onto the shuttle again and enjoyed some really wonderful drunk farm boy entertainment. Again, FREE. Fuck you, vegas, I don't need to drop $$$$ to have laughs and smiles.

Endurocross was THE BEST RACE I HAVE EVER SEEN.



More farting around on the strip. I think this is Saturday, standing at the Bellagio, looking over the water towards Paris.

I'm old and turned into a pumpkin before 2:00 sometime. I don't know. I drink.







Sunday we had to ourselves. We attempted Bellagio buffet, but ended up at the cafe instead. Which was nice. Mimosas were WAY expensive there.
Sunday we decided to wander the strip, going toward Mandalay Bay. I had a place I wanted to show off there (I travel to Vegas occasionally for work, and am getting to know a few "spots" worth seeing)
Worth mentioning:
Drinking in Vegas is over-rated. Unless you're a gambler, you have to buy your drinks. (and if you're putting money in the slots, you're just paying a different way) And the drinks SUCK. Overwhelmingly, they are watered down and way way overpriced. Next time I go for fun, I'm bringing a flask and a bottle of rum or vodka. And possibly picking up a bunch of Guinness on the way in to stash in my hotel and carry around. Because when the mixed drink situation sucks, the beer is a real problem. Budweiser and Coors all around. Something called "Miller?" I don't know, none of it looked beer-like to me. That said, there is a store near the Imperial Palace (where the sidewalk turns in to a cul-de-sack) that sells cans of Guinness. Also, there is a brewpub in the Monte Carlo, a hotel otherwise not notable, except for the INCREDIBLE people watching. We had to sit on the bench and consume our beers so we could get another to go, knowing it would be a long time before we saw dark-brown beer again, and in that time caught some of the most amazing sights of the whole trip.



At New York, we paused to take pictures in front of some meat (I love the fake shit in Vegas. Whose idea was it to put in a fake display of meat?) A few years back, I waited for my friends to get ripped off and ride that roller coaster. I remember it being overpriced and too long a wait. Vegas is lame like that. There is a lot of spectacle to be had for free. So save your money for drinking.
I believe there is also a pub in New York, which I can only assume would have decent beer as well (you gotta map these things out as you plan your day, or risk sobriety)


Finally, we reached my goal: Mandalay Bay, which I'd hoped would have a tiki bar (I wasn't able to find one) But the real thing I wanted to take Paul to was upstairs at MIX. It's a little hard to find from the ground floor, but if you are standing facing the House of Blues (notice the various acts on the marquee in the picture) and turn around to about your 7:00, it is that way. You'll walk into a high-ceilinged room with a back wall of black, with a hostess at a little stand. You'll breeze past her without pause, so she doesn't try to weed out who you are and if you are cool enough, and duck into a small room on the left in the corner, where you'll catch the outside glass elevator (a great view in and of itself) to the top floor. Get here EARLY, and snag a bed/table outside on the patio to watch the lights come up as the sun goes down. Drinks are EXPENSIVE, but there's actually liquor in them so it really isn't worse than what you threw your money away on down in the casinos. Try it Sunday-Wednesday night for the most quiet and least chance of being bumped in favor of some hipster trash who are willing to pay some bottle charge. This is a great spot. Really.

After winding down up at MIX (dinner at the adjoining restaurant is overpriced, in my opinion. I think it was like $30 for nine gnocchi! Thankfully, that was another trip, on the company tab.) we headed down to check out the rest of the Mandalay Bay. I like the restaurant interiors down here. We poked our heads into the various restaurants. Check out Aureole (very cool to see when they are actually getting wine out of the vault) and Red Square, and definitely talk a walk-through of Rum Jungle. Don't miss the bathrooms, but be prepared to tell the bathroom attendants you're just lost. (am I the only one who hates bathroom attendants?) Shanghai Lily is pretty but it was closed, and you can just peek into Fleur de Lys to see the wall treatments with the hostess asking you what you want.

...a nd we hiked back, eventually finding our way to the aquarium at Ceasar's. All the way at the end of the mall. The fish are really neat to watch, and, yes, it's been pointed out to me that those fish don't all belong in the same water, so some or all of them are probably not that happy. The puffer fish was definitely giving off moody airs. The stingray just smiled.







Sunday we had a few hours to kill before leaving. We missed breakfast hour at the Venetian. If you can make it, the Grande Luxe Cafe there has a really good plate of chilaquiles. We did not make it (late by about 4 minutes), so we went for the buffet, which was a total disaster. Don't do it! By the way, on my previous trip, I discovered that the Wynn has a REALLY good buffet. So if you're looking for a good one, that one has little cupcakes and gelato and cheese and all kinds of crap. Cheap, no, but good, yes.

Puttered around the Venetian canal shops, gelato in the "St. Mark's Square" did not live up to my tainted expectations (I've been to St. Marks, and I've had the "best gelato in the world" in San Giminiano) Some opera singers belted out the Fifth Element song (They didn't hold a candle to Marisa.) , which surprised the hell out of me, as I thought they were going for the traditionals, and some other songs. I resisted the temptation to toss gelato on the wedding gondola below, and we left without an escort by security.





Last stop (I think?) was a bar called, I think, Kahunaville? It's probably a chain or something. It smelled a bit like fermenting juice, but they had drinks with big puffy things in them (not quite umbrellas, but there were still eye injuries to be had) and a bartendress who twirled and threw the bottles while she made drinks. She did all of this, behind her back, over her head, into the shakers, into my glass, without really much of a smile. I got a little buzz, and we watched her drop a few bottles before moving on.

Somewhere else, we found a cab and headed to the airport. And home. Where the beer is dark, and the drinks have liquor, and it doesn't cost a million dollars to just enjoy things.
Vegas is kind of lame. It just costs too much. But there is plenty to do even if your a relative cheapskate like me.





Friday, December 02, 2005

What if you ran away and nobody missed you?

It’s sort of a joke, you know, a kid runs away from home, makes it about 2 hours before running back out from wherever he was hiding, the parents didn’t even notice he was gone. What a slap in the face.

Last week, one of my exes apologized for avoiding me. He was sorry he had been avoiding me for the past year, he said, and explained it was because of the “catfighting and snubbing” between (his girlfriend) and myself, so he had to avoid me out of respect for her feelings.
1.) I didn’t notice he was avoiding me.
2.) I didn’t know I was catfighting and snubbing his girlfriend.

I guess I just figured there wasn’t a lot to say, and it didn’t seem weird to me at all that we hadn’t exchanged emails in several months. He was never a particularly engaging person anyway. A very nice person, very cordial, pleasant, funny, etc. But, I mean, I didn’t miss him when we split, and our occasional emails in between have not seemed strained or insufficient in quantity. OK, maybe I’m clueless.

As for the catfighting! This is rich. I’ve known this girl for years, and she’s good friends with many of my good friends. I’ve always been pleasant to her, but don’t think we have a lot in common. What I’ve said about her in the past is that I think she means well, but gets way over-involved in other people’s business. Which, I’ve said on several occasions, I thought was really just because she was a caring person and probably just wanted to be helpful. In my opinion, it just creates drama, but I saw that it was coming from pure intentions. My answer? Nice girl, keep her at arm’s length. Like, “hey, how ya doing? Love your new haircut, it looks great.” Hell, I got her hooked up with a guy she dug (not my ex), from my understanding they went out for a while? Maybe that’s why she doesn’t like me, cuz in my opinion, he wasn’t much of a winner. Other times, I just politely described her as “very social.” I’m a pretty private person, so that’s just a personality difference. Not necessarily a bad thing, but maybe not so compatible.

Bottom line: I don’t like meddling, I don’t like drama, I like my private life. Youse a nice girl, but we have different values, social and drama-wise.

Anyway, as I said, I’ve known her for years on pleasant terms, and my interactions with her haven’t changed at all since. So I don’t really know where the catfighting came from, except that we’re all human, and I know girls don’t really like their boyfriend’s exes. So sue me. I don’t want him back. I know, that doesn’t really help. I’m a girl, remember. Anyway, since this is all a surprise to me, the “catfighting and snubbing” thing just confirms what I’d already suspected: this girl is over-sensitive and likes to start things where there aren’t any. Get a hobby!

So for some reason, I keep thinking about this. I don’t know why. I really stay out of social scenes and drama, so maybe that’s why it’s bothering me? Part of me thinks I ought to talk with her about it next time I see her, but part of me is like “see? I was right! You ARE a drama queen. Good riddance!”

Maybe it’s bugging me because yesterday someone mentioned to me that they broke up, and I didn’t see what it had to do with the conversation. I thought it was just a random thought, but this morning I thought maybe it was because I have some rep for the "catfighting" I’ve supposedly been doing this past year. Ugh. Girls like this trouble me even when I make a plan to keep them politely at arm’s length. You cannot win sometimes.

And people wonder why I never go out anymore?