I hate traveling, but I love plane-rides.
12/22/2010
Alicante to Madrid, Madrid to Frankfurt, Frankfurt to Dulles, Dulles to Denver. Started at 6am Spain time end at 1:00am American time. That's 23hours of traveling. The damn kids in my study group are mostly going from Alicante to Madrid to Atlanta. I got fucked.
When I got to Alicante airport the woman behind the counter suggested that I change my flights around cause there was no way I'd make it through customs and onto my Denver flight in 1 hour and 45 minutes. Since there was no other option and I really wanted to be home for Christmas, I told her I'd take my chances.
All smooth until departing Frankfurt. First thing that happened was a gypsy woman who looked high on crack knocked down a bag from the over-head while trying to stow hers. The bag belonged to the guy beside me, and held the guy's laptop. That thing had to have been broken- that bag fell so hard- you should have heard it, it scared the shit out of me...
Second thing that happened was we were delayed about 45 minutes because someone was ill, so we waited for paramedics to escort them off the plane. What is that about? why don't the stewardess escort them off then come back and we'll be on our way? The kid next to me and I asked the flight attendant she explained that the person had been unconscious and someone nearby had alerted the staff. Wow huh? Where in the world is that line drawn? the line between sleeping neighbor on a plane and unconscious person requiring staff assistance and paramedics. Shit... better stay awake.
Third thing was I was made to feel pretty uncomfortable. The kid across the isle and I started to talk, beginning with the broken computer and it's owner's refusal to check to see if it was ok (we figured he was scared shitless of what he'd find) and then about the paramedics. We were both worried we'd miss our connecting flights. This kid was in the military and looked to be about 30. I found out he was the same age as me and told him so. He remarked that it was probably because he'd seen so much. He said he wanted to get drunk and pass out. He said that the ambien would help with that- they are strong enough to black out all the crazy shit he's seen. What the hell do you say to that? "what have you seen?" "I'm sorry to hear that" I just waited for him to start talking again and I think that was the right move, he started talking about whiskey and stuff. Good guy.
I watched some shitty movies and dozed for a while. As we were coming in to land, the gypsy and the dipshit beside her put their bags against a mid-cabin wall. A flight attendant came by and freaked out when she saw the bags there. She asked if it was a shorter blond attendant who'd put them there. That fucking gypsy/dipshit pair didn't say shit so that other guy got blamed. I wanted to tattle. I didn't but I wanted to. The guy next to me made one more remark about all the shit he'd seen before we departed.
Thursday, February 24, 2011
Tuesday, February 22, 2011
Showers
This isn't a journal entry, just a thought:
I like showers because in its basic form its standing under a flood of water whose temperature can be accurately controlled and with the flick of the wrist. It's a standing watery, cleansing massage.
Showers in America are amazing. Spanish showers suck because its a desert region and thusly, nobody showers on a regular basis. When they do shower they use a hand held thing and turn the water off and on intermittently. Luckily my spanish mother let me leave the water on and take relatively long ones. Some kids in my group had to abide by the hand spout thing and intermittent water usage. I'm pretty conservative with my water but that would fucking suck!
That kind of detachable shower head that doubles as a hand-held shower head has one downfall- it doesn't have very heavy flow and is held and used as you would a hair brush. This hair brush style shower head is as apposed to the cone shaped kinds. I like the cone shape because it allows for maximum flowage and jet at the same time.
I was thinking about this in the shower today and realized the vanity of my scrutiny of showers. Something as cussiony as a shower- a standing, watery and cleansing massage with flick-of-a-wrist, accurate temperature control- can be ruined with something as minimal faucet design changes.
The difference between the two are shape and flow. The cone allows for a cone shaped forceful flow from a 45' angle behind and above you. The hairbrush type allows for a rain sensation running down from above you gently. I like the former because it allows for a more forceful shoulders and neck/back massage.
A luxury such as lavish as a shower can be turned to an unreached potential with looming disappointment and resent. Because realize: after a shitty shower you turn off the water and stand, instantly cold, in the regularly temperated-room. Sorta like when you wade next to a warm jet in a cold swimming pool; as soon as you wander away you're going to be freezing again, this time worse with the memory of the recent comfort of the jet. So because your shower didn't put out hot enough water at a great enough rate to fill the room with the warm, comfortable embrace that is steam: the room will be cold and the memory of the warm shower water will be like the swimming pool jet. Here is the resent. Why didn't you just stay warm and in bed? This leads to negative thoughts about classes, work, any reason that gets you out of your warm bed and out into the cold morning.
The point is this: America is the greatest country in the world and anyone who studied abroad in CIEE Alicante can attest to this. Thank God we can shower the way we do: This is probably why Spain has 16% unemployment: people are waking up pissed due to the cold shitty showers... Although they don't wake up til 10 anyways and take a siesta at 3. I guess that's why... And plus they don't shower usually anyways. I guess Spanish society just doesn't comply with a succeeding economy. But I digress. As Americans we have the privilege of allowing a perfectly designed shower start your day off with a smile and a relaxing and warm massage. God bless America!
I like showers because in its basic form its standing under a flood of water whose temperature can be accurately controlled and with the flick of the wrist. It's a standing watery, cleansing massage.
Showers in America are amazing. Spanish showers suck because its a desert region and thusly, nobody showers on a regular basis. When they do shower they use a hand held thing and turn the water off and on intermittently. Luckily my spanish mother let me leave the water on and take relatively long ones. Some kids in my group had to abide by the hand spout thing and intermittent water usage. I'm pretty conservative with my water but that would fucking suck!
That kind of detachable shower head that doubles as a hand-held shower head has one downfall- it doesn't have very heavy flow and is held and used as you would a hair brush. This hair brush style shower head is as apposed to the cone shaped kinds. I like the cone shape because it allows for maximum flowage and jet at the same time.
I was thinking about this in the shower today and realized the vanity of my scrutiny of showers. Something as cussiony as a shower- a standing, watery and cleansing massage with flick-of-a-wrist, accurate temperature control- can be ruined with something as minimal faucet design changes.
The difference between the two are shape and flow. The cone allows for a cone shaped forceful flow from a 45' angle behind and above you. The hairbrush type allows for a rain sensation running down from above you gently. I like the former because it allows for a more forceful shoulders and neck/back massage.
A luxury such as lavish as a shower can be turned to an unreached potential with looming disappointment and resent. Because realize: after a shitty shower you turn off the water and stand, instantly cold, in the regularly temperated-room. Sorta like when you wade next to a warm jet in a cold swimming pool; as soon as you wander away you're going to be freezing again, this time worse with the memory of the recent comfort of the jet. So because your shower didn't put out hot enough water at a great enough rate to fill the room with the warm, comfortable embrace that is steam: the room will be cold and the memory of the warm shower water will be like the swimming pool jet. Here is the resent. Why didn't you just stay warm and in bed? This leads to negative thoughts about classes, work, any reason that gets you out of your warm bed and out into the cold morning.
The point is this: America is the greatest country in the world and anyone who studied abroad in CIEE Alicante can attest to this. Thank God we can shower the way we do: This is probably why Spain has 16% unemployment: people are waking up pissed due to the cold shitty showers... Although they don't wake up til 10 anyways and take a siesta at 3. I guess that's why... And plus they don't shower usually anyways. I guess Spanish society just doesn't comply with a succeeding economy. But I digress. As Americans we have the privilege of allowing a perfectly designed shower start your day off with a smile and a relaxing and warm massage. God bless America!
Etch-a-SketchPRO UPDATE
Etch-a-SketchPRO has a new member. My roommate Sean saw me doing my etch-a-sketch blog and read it. The next day he took the etch-a-sketch to work and came back with this
Very nice, especially for a first attempt...
Since he's done a few more logos. Seans an alright kid I don't know how classically artistic he is, but he can etch-a-sketch for sure, proving that all it takes is an etch-a-sketch and some patience.
The next test for him will be to do a picture or a scene- something with more to it than just a logo. Not to say that logos are easy, but it's a different type of challenge.
With or without this next challenge, Seans already got my blessing as an official Etch-a-SketchPRO. My brother Ryan did an etch-a-sketch too but just wrote FUCK U so he's still out until he tries a little harder.
Here's more PRO entries: Sean's second and third(I think) attempts. Good use of curves and keeping scale.
Very nice, especially for a first attempt...
Since he's done a few more logos. Seans an alright kid I don't know how classically artistic he is, but he can etch-a-sketch for sure, proving that all it takes is an etch-a-sketch and some patience.
The next test for him will be to do a picture or a scene- something with more to it than just a logo. Not to say that logos are easy, but it's a different type of challenge.
With or without this next challenge, Seans already got my blessing as an official Etch-a-SketchPRO. My brother Ryan did an etch-a-sketch too but just wrote FUCK U so he's still out until he tries a little harder.
Here's more PRO entries: Sean's second and third(I think) attempts. Good use of curves and keeping scale.
Saturday, February 19, 2011
Journal 13- Boulder
Apparently my past behavior has lead a girl to say this to me last night: "huh, I thought you were gay." I'm not too embarrassed about writing that up here cause nobody in the world reads this thing, but ya, that's what she said to me. I don't know what to do about this I really don't. I wanna plan an intricate use of the DENNIS system really, she deseres it.
Journal 12 -Boulder
Tuesday Feb. 15, 2011
Today I joined the most underappreciated goldmine this modern world has to offer: The Public Library. I love to read, yes, but wouldn't touch those nasty-ass library books for anything. Instead I use it for cd's and dvd's.
People say to me, "Cory why don't you just torrent? You have a computer."
I don't understand whats wrong with cd's already; they have better sound quality than an Ipod -I don't know if thats true actually- my car has a cd player and I don't have an Ipod, so that's why I stand by cd's. Plus, my computer works great after 4 years of use and will continue to work great because I don't download music or movies on it.
What I do is basically just as illegal though- on that topic. This past summer I had a daily commute of about 20 minutes each way to my pool. At the beginning of the week I'd rent a dozen cd's from the Monument Public LIbrary and listen to them usually about one per day in my truck in on the way to work. If I liked it I'd put it in my computer at the end of that week.
I am now a card carrying Boulder Public Library member. Torrent sites can kiss my ass- the BPL has everything I need.
Today I joined the most underappreciated goldmine this modern world has to offer: The Public Library. I love to read, yes, but wouldn't touch those nasty-ass library books for anything. Instead I use it for cd's and dvd's.
People say to me, "Cory why don't you just torrent? You have a computer."
I don't understand whats wrong with cd's already; they have better sound quality than an Ipod -I don't know if thats true actually- my car has a cd player and I don't have an Ipod, so that's why I stand by cd's. Plus, my computer works great after 4 years of use and will continue to work great because I don't download music or movies on it.
What I do is basically just as illegal though- on that topic. This past summer I had a daily commute of about 20 minutes each way to my pool. At the beginning of the week I'd rent a dozen cd's from the Monument Public LIbrary and listen to them usually about one per day in my truck in on the way to work. If I liked it I'd put it in my computer at the end of that week.
I am now a card carrying Boulder Public Library member. Torrent sites can kiss my ass- the BPL has everything I need.
Monday, February 7, 2011
Journal 11- Boulder
THINGS I CAN DO
2/6/2011
I've never been stranded in the wilderness but I know I'd survive.
While cooking up a masterpiece I like listening to music. Earlier I was making 7-layer dip for our Superbowl potluck and noticed how cool the drums are in the song "Cath" by Death Cab For Cutie. I'll keep that song in mind for when I get a set of drums. The Superbowl was fun and the food was all good. later after the party someone put on "Ocean Breathless Salty" by Modest Mouse (which also has pretty baller drums in it).
This leads me to my main train of thought. I don't want to sound cocky, but I'm a natural at some things and I know it. I grew up in suburban areas in Cincinnati and Colorado Springs, play guitar and baseball and football. Regardless, I have a running list of things I'm sure I can do. Originally I hadn't tried any of these things but always knew I could do them. Things I know I can do:
-Survive in the wilderness long enough to make it to civilization or be found by rescue teams. (excluding deserts and the tundra)
-play goalie for a hockey team
-play the drums
The first item I got to try out was drums. My friends Mitch and Zach Bever got a set for Christmas so it was time to prove myself. I've tried the drums about 3 times now and realize that I definitely need practice but with just a little I'm sure I'll have drums mastered.
Second, my intramural hockey team needed a goalie so obviously I volunteered. Needless to say I did awesomely; I blocked about 5 shots, let in 2 and we won the game. A week later I volunteered again and let in about 12 and blocked maybe 2. Again- little practice and I'll be good.
I've never been stranded in the wilderness but I know I could do it.
2/6/2011
I've never been stranded in the wilderness but I know I'd survive.
While cooking up a masterpiece I like listening to music. Earlier I was making 7-layer dip for our Superbowl potluck and noticed how cool the drums are in the song "Cath" by Death Cab For Cutie. I'll keep that song in mind for when I get a set of drums. The Superbowl was fun and the food was all good. later after the party someone put on "Ocean Breathless Salty" by Modest Mouse (which also has pretty baller drums in it).
This leads me to my main train of thought. I don't want to sound cocky, but I'm a natural at some things and I know it. I grew up in suburban areas in Cincinnati and Colorado Springs, play guitar and baseball and football. Regardless, I have a running list of things I'm sure I can do. Originally I hadn't tried any of these things but always knew I could do them. Things I know I can do:
-Survive in the wilderness long enough to make it to civilization or be found by rescue teams. (excluding deserts and the tundra)
-play goalie for a hockey team
-play the drums
The first item I got to try out was drums. My friends Mitch and Zach Bever got a set for Christmas so it was time to prove myself. I've tried the drums about 3 times now and realize that I definitely need practice but with just a little I'm sure I'll have drums mastered.
Second, my intramural hockey team needed a goalie so obviously I volunteered. Needless to say I did awesomely; I blocked about 5 shots, let in 2 and we won the game. A week later I volunteered again and let in about 12 and blocked maybe 2. Again- little practice and I'll be good.
I've never been stranded in the wilderness but I know I could do it.
Wednesday, February 2, 2011
Foreign Behavior -Journal 10
October 13, 2010
I had to write this one in- Maria's past student, Mickey, is back in Alicante and was supposed to come over for dinner today but changed his plans to tomorrow and will now be bringing a friend.
Maria just came to my room and asked, "Hay muchas negros en Estados Unidos?" -Are there many black people in America?
I told her it depended on the region: south and east yes there's a lot but in Colorado no not really. She told me that's what she thought: many in the south...
But anyhow, she explained, Mickey is going to bring a friend tomorrow but he didn't specify who. She said it didn't matter to her, but be ready, because, she doesn't know who the friend will be and he could be a negro! "Puede ser. No me importa, me da igual, pero puede ser. Ya veremos."
God I love how innocently and ignorantly racist Spaniards are. They don't have any idea that what they say could possibly be inappropriate.
But then again, that begs the question: Shes completely fine with black people so; is it wrong to prepare to have one in your house? -actually ya. thats kinda wrong, but funny as hell.
I had to write this one in- Maria's past student, Mickey, is back in Alicante and was supposed to come over for dinner today but changed his plans to tomorrow and will now be bringing a friend.
Maria just came to my room and asked, "Hay muchas negros en Estados Unidos?" -Are there many black people in America?
I told her it depended on the region: south and east yes there's a lot but in Colorado no not really. She told me that's what she thought: many in the south...
But anyhow, she explained, Mickey is going to bring a friend tomorrow but he didn't specify who. She said it didn't matter to her, but be ready, because, she doesn't know who the friend will be and he could be a negro! "Puede ser. No me importa, me da igual, pero puede ser. Ya veremos."
God I love how innocently and ignorantly racist Spaniards are. They don't have any idea that what they say could possibly be inappropriate.
But then again, that begs the question: Shes completely fine with black people so; is it wrong to prepare to have one in your house? -actually ya. thats kinda wrong, but funny as hell.
Journal 9 -Boulder
January 31, 2011
Zombies. That's all I seem to be capable of at this point in my life: killing zombies. Call of Duty: Black Ops has the Zombies game once again and I've become quite good at it. I've even put up with the shitty Black Ops campaign to unlock the second zombies level- It's in the Pentagon- kinda fun. My friends Jake and George have that game down to a science. They constantly get to at least level 30 and are threatening to write a book about their strategy. My room mate and my record is level 10. Fuck Zombies. Fuck Call of Duty. Every new game they come up with is more frustrating and more addictive than the one before it. I've got an internship to be hunting and all I've got running through my head is the strategies we've developed to help us get beyond level 10: level 3-buy M4, level 4-buy door upstairs, level 6-buy mystery box gun...
The most stressful time in all of my life so far and I'm being dragged down by zombies. Wonder why? If you're current on my etchasketchpro blog you maybe able to put together the pieces but if not I'll hazard a guess as to why Zombies is taking control of my life: the absence of Marijuana. Marijuana is a mental crutch; it leaves you content with whatever happens. Nothing to do? Smoke pot and you'll not want anything to do. Thinking about not looking for internships and watching On Demand all day? Pot is ok with that plan.
Now that I've stopped smoking pot I've taken up killing zombies. Both amazingly useless and mind-numbing. Anyhow I'm in bed writing this and watching Good Will Hunting. Probably going to sleep now.
-What does "putt from the rough mean?" I understand the connotation but where did that saying come from?
-According to Urban Dictionary: It's a crude reference to gay anal sex derived from the movie Good Will Hunting.
Zombies. That's all I seem to be capable of at this point in my life: killing zombies. Call of Duty: Black Ops has the Zombies game once again and I've become quite good at it. I've even put up with the shitty Black Ops campaign to unlock the second zombies level- It's in the Pentagon- kinda fun. My friends Jake and George have that game down to a science. They constantly get to at least level 30 and are threatening to write a book about their strategy. My room mate and my record is level 10. Fuck Zombies. Fuck Call of Duty. Every new game they come up with is more frustrating and more addictive than the one before it. I've got an internship to be hunting and all I've got running through my head is the strategies we've developed to help us get beyond level 10: level 3-buy M4, level 4-buy door upstairs, level 6-buy mystery box gun...
The most stressful time in all of my life so far and I'm being dragged down by zombies. Wonder why? If you're current on my etchasketchpro blog you maybe able to put together the pieces but if not I'll hazard a guess as to why Zombies is taking control of my life: the absence of Marijuana. Marijuana is a mental crutch; it leaves you content with whatever happens. Nothing to do? Smoke pot and you'll not want anything to do. Thinking about not looking for internships and watching On Demand all day? Pot is ok with that plan.
Now that I've stopped smoking pot I've taken up killing zombies. Both amazingly useless and mind-numbing. Anyhow I'm in bed writing this and watching Good Will Hunting. Probably going to sleep now.
-What does "putt from the rough mean?" I understand the connotation but where did that saying come from?
-According to Urban Dictionary: It's a crude reference to gay anal sex derived from the movie Good Will Hunting.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)