The Search for Nicole

Best. Chocolate. Pudding. Ever.

2012-02-02T13:07:00.000-08:00

Since the blog post coming up is rather serious and has been in the works for about 13 months, I thought I'd post something a bit more fun... and delicious. This is possibly the best pudding ever and has waaaaaaaay more nutrition than regular chocolate pudding. It's gluten-free, vegan and raw (assuming the maple syrup and cocoa powder are raw). It even looks just like regular pudding- try waiting until your guests are done eating and raving about it to tell them what's in it. Enjoy!

Chocolate Avocado Pudding
Serves 6

1/2 cup pitted mejdool dates, soaked
1/2 cup pure maple syrup
1 tsp vanilla extract
3 ripe avocados
1/2 cup plus 4 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa
1/2 cup water (+/- depending on the texture desired- start with 1/4 cup and add as needed)

Place the dates, maple syrup, and vanilla in a food processor and process until smooth. Add the avocados and cocoa powder and process until creamy. Stop occasionally to scrape down the sides of the bowl with a spatula. Add the water and process briefly. Serve chilled or at room temperature.

The pudding will keep for up to three days in the refrigerator.

Thanks and credit to http://www.riceoflife.com/

Parque Nacional Cahuita and the Jaguar Rescue Center

2011-05-26T18:34:00.000-07:00

I'm super tired today and this is probably a really boring post, but I have to get it in words before I forget details...

Parque Nacional Cahuita- Wednesday

Oh how I wish America had a national park as amazing as Parque Nacional Cahuita. Postcard-perfect beaches, coral reefs, jungle, monkeys, iguanas, sloths, frogs, snakes, ant civilizations- and it's all perfectly preserved. The park itself is relatively tiny and young- only 10 square kilometers and has only been a national park since 1978.

We (the local guide and a newlywed couple from the Basque region in Spain) took a small rickety boat to Punta Cahuita, the "point" that juts out into the water and snorkeled for nearly two hours. I've not seen such perfect coral ever... but I guess I've only been snorkeling a handful of times. I'm always amazed at how the tropical fish mostly ignore snorkelers. This time though, I felt like I was a part of the school of fish many times. The water was very shallow too, so it was easier to see the camouflaged fishes lurking in the lettuce coral, brain coral and fan coral.

After a fresh pineapple snack on the beach, we hiked the less than 2 miles along the beach to the ranger station at the edge of the quaint town of Cahuita, population 600 (where some still speak the native language, Mekatelyu). Our guide stopped regularly along the way to point out a particular species of mammal, reptile, insect or plant. We even had to ford the river at one point.

(Can you spot the iguana?)

At one point, there was a concrete natural spring "hot tub". It is there because Pemex, the Mexican oil company, drilled for oil there before it was a national park. Luckily they didn't find oil, but they did find a hot spring.

Jaguar Rescue Center- Thursday

The name is a misnomer. There are no jaguars at the Jaguar Centro de Recate (Jaguar Rescue Center). It was named for a sick baby jaguar that died there after they were unable to nurse her back to health after her mother was killed.

The best part about this place is the howler monkeys that you can play with. They have about 10 of them who are orphaned and/or were injured. They are such loving, playful and active animals- you can't help but want to take one home with you... if only customs would allow it!

And, for the first time in my life, I've seen a live red-eyed tree frog! There were a few years in high school that I was fairly obsessed with them (and frogs in general)... they are much smaller than photos would suggest, but so amazing.

¡Adios Puerto Viejo!

I leave for San Jose in the morning, but it's been a great week here is Rasta Rica! ¡Te amo, Costa Rica!

Laziest. Vacation. Ever.

2011-05-24T09:10:00.000-07:00

I haven't done much since my last post. Hopefully this doesn't surprise you. I snoozed & read by the pool, swam in the pool, went to the beach that was so hot I couldn't stay for more than 10 minutes (the sand was so hot, it felt like I was walking on hot coals- and I'm not exaggerating), watched a couple of movies on my 900-channel flat screen tv. I am sad when I realize how much time I have spent watching movies in my cabana, but I tell myself it's educational- I watch American movies subtitled in Spanish. This makes me feel better about it.

Sunday night was the first time it's rained since I've been here. And it rained again last night. Before I left to come to Costa Rica, I was watching the weather closely because May is the beginning of Central America's rainy season... all I saw was clouds, thunderstorms and rain in the daily forecasts. I was sure it was going to rain the entire time I was here. I don't know if I've been lucky or what (knock on wood), but it has been sunny and beautiful everyday. The rain doesn't start until after dark, maybe 8 or 9 pm (by then, I'm already in for the evening since I'm out of town and not really here to party) and it clears up by the time I wake up. I really have no idea if it's raining in other parts of Costa Rica...

Yesterday was one of my big excursions- I went on a canopy tour. This is where you wear a harness attached to a pulley and fly through the jungle trees from platform to platform by a cable. It was totally awesome. Chickening out at bungee jumping on my 30th birthday made me think I might chicken out at this too, but luckily they strap you in and kinda give you a push, so I didn't have any time to think about it. There were 23 platforms and 2560 meters of cable. Plus one Tarzan rope swing. They pushed me off that one too- thank goodness.

Anyone who comes to Costa Rica, you cannot miss this!

After the canopy tour, two girls from Ohio and I went to lunch at Cafe Ivon... Sea Bass in coconut pineapple sauce with coconut rice (for US$10 including tip)... soooo delicious... as long as you are willing to wait to get your food. I think we waited an hour after ordering before we got our food. I swear they went out on a boat to get my fish after I ordered!

Mañana: Cahuita National Park- snorkeling and hiking. Stay Tuned.

The Rich Coast

2011-05-20T18:40:00.000-07:00

Aqui

After a 2-hour delay at PDX and a red eye flight that resulted in me attempting to sprint through the Denver airport, then a 4 1/2 hour shuttle ride over not-so-great roads, I have made it to the beautiful Caribbean coast of Costa Rica. If you thought Portland was green in the springtime, prepare to be shocked. This is a green jungle, literally… costa rica.

I have already seen fields and fields of bananas, tons of coconut trees, lots of crazy birds and lizards, a couple of monkeys, butterflies and there are 15 sloths that live on the grounds of my hotel, Cariblue. In addition, I have seen more bugs than most vacation spots, Tikal excluded. (I will never forget Tikal.) This was expected of course, so my clothes are permethrin-treated and I’ve brought along the 97% DEET insect repellent.

Cariblue is an Italian-owned complex of duplex and 4-plex cabañas and outdoor spaces nestled in a jungle, across the street from Playa Cocles (Cocles beach). While the rest of my experience here at the cabañas so far hasn’t reflected the Italian influence, the menu has. This is unfortunate for obvious reasons, but also because who the hell wants pasta when it’s 85 degrees with 80% humidity? I want fish tacos with Caribbean flare! And fresh guacamole with freshly-made chips! The traditional Costa Rican breakfast almost made up for it- beans & rice, veggies, eggs, soya, a huge assortment of pastries (kiwi bread, jalapeno buns, sweet bread- very dense with a glaze on top), lots of fresh fruit (watermelon, pineapple, papaya, canteloupe), Guanabanana (wan-ah-BAN-an-AH) juice, orange juice and, of course, coffee. I didn't eat again until nearly 5:00!

El Super Mercado

I don’t really have an itinerary yet, which is how the Caribbean cultures like it. I did make a trip to the super Mercado (supermarket) today. I bought a small styrofoam cooler and some cervesa (bevs here don't seem to be any cheaper than America, at least at the bars).

The local supermarket is better than any travel guide about a culture. It tells you how a culture eats, what a culture believes in and about their habits, values, ways, traditions. Do they use local products or import foods? Imports would suggest that they are a relatively prosperous country (or have a lot of ex-pats living there) and local products usually means they highly value their local culture or can’t import because of economics or politics. You can almost bet that the more processed foods a culture eats, the more prevalent obesity is... and it's true for Costa Rica- many, many processed foods. Do they have an obscene number of tourist souvenirs? You’re probably not at the supermarket.

I went to two different supermarkets- one recommended by the super nice worker here at the cabañas... I resisted buying anything until I had checked out the other one and I'm glad I did. The other one was much, much better... waaaay more beer and food selections. I was surprised by the tiny little Asian foods section.

I discovered that nearly everything here comes in bags- salsa, milk, sauces, jam, etc. I find salsa in a bag to be bizarre. I'm not sure if that's because it didn't look or feel chunky or because I couldn't see the salsa itself or if it was simply the bag idea. I did not buy any salsa. I'm always amazed at how many different types of fried foods in bags Latin America has... I guess it's better temperature-wise than getting french fries or fried... pig skins.

Mi Bicicleta

I rode a bike into town. I nearly ran over two crabs and one lizard. Road kill here is crabs instead of deer or squirrels... and I don't need to tell you that smashed crabs on asphalt in 85 degrees smells horrible.

Juego de Fútbol

I also went to a fútbol game this evening- a national team (players who play in the World Cup) played the local team, Puerto Viejo de Talamanca. It must have been the national team's reserve squad, because Puerto Viejo was playing better than the Limon national team. It was relatively exciting nonetheless- it seemed like the entire town was there to see the match. I miss my Timbers though... beat Columbus tomorrow, ok?

¡Hasta Luego!

Sympathy Tips

2011-01-26T10:24:00.000-08:00

I just read this article in the Wall Street Journal regarding what to do when someone you know loses a loved one. I highly recommend reading the entire article. It explains different reactions to grieving as well as some solutions.

I identify so much with this article because of the radically different reactions I received when my dad died and also when my uncle died. A lot of people just don't know what to do or say or how to act. Before my father's death, I admit- I didn't know what to do or say either which is why I think this article is so important. Many people don't know how to react because they have never been through the grieving process.

The most important thing to remember is that the person who has lost someone needs support. They may not have the energy or capacity for it now (or ever) but it is important for them to know that you are there for them. Probably the best tip in the entire article: "Promise to be there in the coming weeks and months. And keep your promise." I reached out to only a handful of the people who offered me support, but it was most comforting to know that people were simply there for me.

After my dad passed away, a family member promised to call me every week. I was so elated to know that someone that I loved cared enough to do this, to keep tabs on me and offer such constant support. I was looking forward to those calls so much. After a couple of weeks though, this family member stopped calling. In the back of my mind, I knew that her promise was unrealistic. She had big ideas and was also overwhelmed with emotion, so I guess I wasn't surprised when she stopped calling, but it really would have been great if we talked every week, at least for a while. As my healing went on, I imagine I would have started calling her instead of her calling me. I imagined a small support system and that system disappeared. Lesson: do not make promises you can't keep.

From the article:

REACH OUT. But don't let email or texting take the place of an in-person visit or phone call. Remember, much of what we find comforting—tone of voice, eye contact, touch—is nonverbal.
LISTEN. Follow the mourner's lead. Let the person talk about what is important to him.
SHARE A MEMORY. For someone who is grieving, hearing about things the loved one said and did, and what they meant to others, is comforting.
OFFER PRACTICAL HELP. Can you assist with funeral planning? Babysitting? Mowing the lawn? Most people don't ask for help because they don't want to seem needy.
ASK BEFORE BRINGING A LOT OF FOOD.* What do the mourners want or need? It doesn't have to be fancy—perhaps milk, eggs or orange juice?
GIVE SOMETHING THAT WILL LIVE ON. Consider skipping the flowers. Perhaps share a memento, or make a charitable donation to honor the deceased.

And a few additional tips of my own:

Don't ignore them. Confrontation is uncomfortable (in nearly all cases) but this is an uncomfortable situation for everyone and ignoring them is not the way to show that you care.
Don't pressure him/her to respond to your condolences (and offers*).
If you don't know what to say, a simple "I'm thinking of you" or "I'm sorry for your loss" will suffice. Avoid "preachy, presumptuous and impersonal" comments at all costs.
Don't use religious phrases or ideas unless you know for sure that the person who is grieving shares those ideas.
Keep in mind that men grieve differently than women. Men like to "do" things (my grandfather spent a lot of time filling bullet shells when my dad died) and women like to cry and/or talk.

*A friend of mine swears that just doing things without asking is the way to go as mourners rarely admit that need or want help or they may not realize it. Asking first what someone needs requires a response though, so use your best judgment. Is this the type of person who would appreciate a casserole, their lawn mowed or a walk? If so, just do it.

A Plea to Be Polite

2011-01-14T16:37:00.000-08:00

What did we do before cell phones?

We TALKED to each other when we were out to dinner. We gave our guests and dinner dates our full attention. We paid attention to the moment and sometimes we even embraced and enjoyed it. We weren't interrupted, except to order another beer or to entertain a brilliant idea. We didn't feel the need to alert the world to every stupid little thing that happened in our everyday life. We "networked" at appropriate times & places and in person. We engaged each other. On a personal, two-sided level.

Call me old fashioned, but this cell phone & portable internet thing has gotten out of hand. How did we become so addicted and attached to these little objects? We lived for centuries without them and now we can't even leave them in our pocket or purse for one hour during dinner.

In my perfect-world mind, this is a growing problem. We aren't using our brains anymore, we rely on machines to think and to remember for us. We whip out our iPhones and Droids when we can't remember the name of that movie with so-and-so in it. Our brains are dying slowly and not just from using them less and less, the radiation from our cell phones is doing damage as well... but all that is another topic (and one I've been mulling for years- stay tuned).

This article from WiseGeek sums cell phone ettiquette up best- I've salvaged, modernized and added my own notes and rules to it below (in italics).

1. When a Private Conversation Isn't Possible. Intimate public settings such as restaurants, public restrooms, waiting rooms, check-out lines, hallways, buses, subways or anywhere a private conversation is not possible is a bad place for a cell phone conversation. To practice good cell phone etiquette, put the ringer on vibrate or silent mode and let the call roll over to voice mail. If it's an important call, step outside or to a secluded area to return the call. If that's not possible and you must take the call, keep your voice low and the conversation brief. Let the caller know you'll get back to them when you're able. When in doubt, mute!
2. Lights Out, Phone Off. Phones should be turned off in movie theaters, playhouses, observatories or any other public place that creates an atmosphere to transport the imagination of the audience. People pay good money to be entertained and a ringer breaks the illusion. Be aware of your surroundings. Once, a man answered his phone in the middle of a movie after letting it ring about 8 times. Not one person in that theater was pleased with that man. Don't be that man.

3. Modulate Your Voice (and the volume of your ringer). Cell phones have sensitive microphones that can pick up a very soft voice while blocking out ambient noise. Yelling into a cell phone is not necessary. When people are nearby, be considerate and keep your voice low, your tone unemotional and even, and your conversation private. Arguing or airing dirty laundry in public is very poor cell phone etiquette. And it's not necessary for everyone in the entire grocery store to know when someone's calling you. Again, be aware of your surroundings.

4. Observe the 10-foot Proximity Rule. Maintain a distance of at least 10-feet (3 meters) from the nearest person when talking on a cell phone. No matter how quietly you speak, if standing too close to others they are forced to overhear your personal business. I've not heard of this 10-foot rule before, but I like it.
5. Keep It Short. If you MUST talk in a public place (in emergencies or to tell your caller that you'll call them back later), keep public conversations brief and get back to the caller when you're not in a public place.
6. Love the One You're With. It's rude to take a cell phone call or text or surf on a date or during a social engagement with others. It's also inconsiderate to take a call in the middle of a conversation. If the caller were present he or she would likely wait to politely interrupt at a more appropriate time. Let the call roll to voice mail and return it later. This is one of my pet peeves. See the words above- it's RUDE! R-U-D-E. Personally, I feel ignored and disrespected when people I'm with are constantly on their phones either texting or surfing. The call or text may be important to you, but realize you're also important to the person in front of or next to you. If I wanted to go out to dinner by myself, I would have done so. Don't talk on your cell phone, play games or send text messages in front of someone who expects your attention.
7. Drive Now, Talk (, text & surf) Later. Multitasking isn't always a good thing. Some evidence shows that accidents are on the rise due to cell phone use. Pull over or wait until you get to your destination to have the conversation. Duh!
8. Use Common Sense. Turn off your phone before a job interview, presentation, or boardroom meeting. Leave it off at funerals, weddings, or anyplace a quiet atmosphere is mandated, such as a courthouse, library, museum, or place of worship. And don't use your phone when you're ordering at a counter or checking out at a retail/food establishment. They're sure to spit in your food or give you the stink eye

Of course, in all situations above, the exception is emergencies. I also don't mind if I've been warned by the person I'm about to meet up with that they're expecting a call, especially if it's an important one. Annoyance averted.

This is an excerpt from a great article from Road & Travel Magazine, it adds some logic to the argument:

Keep in mind, the more available you make yourself the more available everyone will expect you to be. People will actually be miffed if you are not instantly and constantly available rather than being pleased when you do call. Think: Do you really need to be - or want to be - "connected" 24/7/365? And ask: what's it doing for that tension across your upper back? If you can summon the discipline to be unavailable at certain times - and even for uncertain lengths of time - it's doubtful much will change, except your peace of mind.

First, think of your phone as a tool for emergencies. If it's important, they'll call back and that question they just asked you by text- they will be just fine without an answer for the next hour.

Second, think of your phone as a portable answering machine. It takes messages when you are not available. Now that's convenient.

Your dinner date would be oh-so-happy.

I Can't Stop Thinking About: Sleep Talkin' Man

2010-01-26T12:45:00.000-08:00

When I need a pick-me-up without the caffeine, I look no further than The Sleep Talkin' Man.

A few of my favorite G-rated quotes:

"Hey, don't... don't say anything. Why don't you put it in an email, then I can ignore it at my pleasure."

"If I wanted to see a long nose and a big ass, I'd look at a horse."

"Butt cheeks ahoy! There she blows!"

"Oompa loompas don't sing in heaven. They tidy up the clouds."

"Well that's just great. Peanut butter in my crack. Goddammit."

"Since when did my underwear look good on you? Take it off. Take it off your face."

...Life would be so much more awesome if we all talked like this guy. Everyday.

My Ninja Skills

2010-01-14T15:07:00.000-08:00

This can't be right. It's a mistake.... clearly a mistake. Have I really not blogged since May? (And a pretty cop-out post at that.) No wonder only four of you ever read my blog. The good news is that I've been entertaining myself with other wonderfully refreshing and very entertaining new (to me) blogs, see Kristy's and Todd's blogs, also linked at right. Kristy is currently doing volunteer work in Uganda and Todd is one of my close friends from college. 7444 Gallery is his art gallery in Saranac Lake, NY.

Anyway, one of the other things I've been preoccupied with lately is knives.

Yes, I'm a ninja. In the kitchen.

I recently took a Knife Skills class at In Good Taste Cooking School in downtown Portland. I can't believe what a difference nice (sharp!) knives and the correct techniques make. I now want to mince, dice, chop, slice, chiffonade & Asian julienne everything that crosses the threshold into my kitchen. Actually, anything that makes me want to prepare my own food is a good thing. Believe me.

You shoulda seen that basil I worked on... best in the class. And that grapefruit I put in my parfait- perfect! garlic paste? minced garlic? no problem. Onions- my favorite. You want fajitas? You can have 'em- I hate green peppers, but I'd be happy to show you how to conquer that green ball of confusion.

Now, if I could just afford one of those locally-made, sharpened-for-free, 8" chef's knife, the city would be safe. And fed.

This is Why I Love Portland

2009-05-14T13:51:00.000-07:00

Artist Review: Bon Iver

2009-04-23T10:02:00.000-07:00

I can't get enough of Bon Iver.

I originally started to review For Emma, Forever Ago because it is their latest release, but I quickly realized that all of their other songs (which include only an EP and a single song for an artist compilation) are just as amazing and that I couldn't ignore them, so I am reviewing all their songs. Whatever Justin Vernon (et al?) were doing in a cabin in the middle-of-nowhere Wisconsin, it worked.

This music is perfect. I rarely find an artist of which I adore every single song. (Perhaps it's too early for this claim? I've only been listening to them non-stop for less than two weeks.) Even the track "Woods" (from Blood Bank- EP), which I thought would annoy me after a few listens, has proven to be just as amazing and enduring as all the rest.

While For Emma, Forever Ago is mostly folky guitar with exceptionally unique vocals, select songs have a slight drum beat, but nothing too happy- you won't be hearing this one at the club. Portions of certain songs contain vocals that could be mistaken for a church hymn, but don't let that deter you- they pick up (even if temporarily) and prove to be more uplifting than going to church.

One thing that Bon Iver does so well is what I call "the build-up"- when the music has some foreshadowing, like there is a bridge or chorus coming up, and the music gets more and more intense. Sometimes it's for just a couple of seconds, but other times the entire song seems to be in & out of the build-up... truly beautiful, and it evokes so much emotion.

Whether you see it as a downfall or not (I certainly don't), their tempo range isn't horribly varied. "Re: Stacks" is very Nick Drake-esque, while "Lump Sum" and "Team" are as upbeat as they get... still very placid. Each song sounds different for Bon Iver, unlike some bands that you can't differentiate between tracks.

Probably my favorite (or at least current) track of Bon Iver's is "Blood Bank" (from the Blood Bank EP). The song undulates between an medium-beat bass drum tempo and bare vocals with bare guitar & chords. But the song is anything but bare. How can so few sound sources captivate so well? Another fave is from the Dark Was the Night artist compilation called "Brackett, WI." It's a mellow mix of harmonizing vocals and gee-tar... and it's perfect. All tracks on For Emma, Forever Ago are amazing, but I can see "Flume," "Skinny Love" and "For Emma" being top downloads.

Surely you will find at least one Bon Iver track on my soundtrack this year!

English Lesson #2- Then vs. Than

2009-04-22T14:30:00.000-07:00

Ugh! Where did you go to school? I can't believe the severity of this country's bad spelling and abhorable grammar. Today's lesson: then vs. than.

Than: a comparison.

"Than" is a conjunction- that means it connects/conjoins two phrases or ideas. You can usually use "more" or "less" with this word, or at least the ideas of more and less.

Then: a description of time.

It's really that simple. I'm not sure how anyone can mess this one up, but I've seen it a lot lately. Here are some examples in case you missed the entire year of 3rd grade:

Than

I have more grammar skills than you.
The Portland Trail Blazers are better than the Houston Rockets.

Then

Next, afterward

First, we will drink liquor, then we will drink beer.

A point in time

If you are home by 6:00, I'll call you then.

In addition to

On top of being lazy, then there is the issue of not eating right.

Therefore/in that case (often used with "if")

If you want to make a good impression, then you'll have to clean up your grammar.

REMEMBER:

If you are comparing, use "than." Everything else, use "then."

I Can't Stop Thinking About...

2009-04-15T15:12:00.000-07:00

...the film Fat Girl (or À Ma Soeur! in french)- and I swear it's not just because of my previous post regarding airline policies. I saw this movie nearly a month ago and it still freaks me out. I won't give anything away, but I'm still very disturbed by the ending. I seem to be hyper-aware of my surroundings now, especially when I get into my car at 5:10 am for bootcamp...

A special thanks to my dear friend Heidi who gave me permission to copy her "Can't Stop Thinking About" feature on my blog. Check out her "Farmhaus Modern" blog to the right. It's one of my faves!

I Paid For That Space!

2009-04-15T14:40:00.000-07:00

I would like to thank United Airlines for adopting new policies regarding Passengers Requiring Extra Space.

Let me clarify that I have nothing against people who:

are unable to fit into a single seat in the ticketed cabin;

are unable to properly buckle the seatbelt using a single seatbelt extender; and/or

are unable to put the seat’s armrests down when seated

...except when my space is violated. I want my every last centimeter. I paid for it.

Now, if I could just get the airlines to outlaw perfumes....

The World's Shortest Fairytale

2009-02-03T09:31:00.000-08:00

My grandma emailed this to me last night... even married women can appreciate it!

The World's Shortest Fairytale

Once upon a time, a guy asked a girl, "Will you marry me?" The girl said "No" and she lived happily ever after and went shopping, drank margaritas with friends, always had a clean house, never had to cook, had a closet full of shoes and handbags, stayed skinny, and was never farted on.

The End.

Advice for the Future

2009-01-31T10:29:00.000-08:00

I've recently had to revise my will.

In the past few years, I have become more familiar with death than I would like, so forgive me if this topic seems a bit "comfortable" to me. I understand that this may be very uncomfortable for you, so read on at your own risk.

In revising my will, I've really had to re-think some important decisions about my family, post-Nicole. These decisions were easy the first time around, but this time it has proven to be extremely challenging. I believe this is more arduous this time because the one person I trusted the most with those difficult decisions is now gone. Often during this revision process, I felt like almost no family member was trustworthy in carrying out my wishes after I am gone. (I understand, though, that this is/may be partially due to anger and denial relative to grief.) Fortunately, I have faith that there are a couple of dear family members that I trust will follow my wishes (even if they do not agree with them) because they understand that they are my wishes and not theirs. They understand and respect them.

Naming people in a will and pre-deciding medical treatment is an amazingly difficult task. Imagine actually thinking of yourself being gone; of your family and friends grieving over you but still being forced to read and execute a document that you wrote while you were still alive or still of sound mind. (Trust me- this is much easier than dealing with a family member who didn't have a will.)

Part of my decision includes the option to use Oregon's Death with Dignity Act. If you are not familiar with this act, it makes doctor-assisted suicide legal in the state of Oregon. It states that if you are terminally ill and a physician believes you will die within 6 months, you can request a lethal prescription to end your life. Realistically, I'm not sure that I could actually go through with something like this, but I'd like the choice, especially if I am in great pain and misery. Morally, I believe everyone should have the right to do this, just as any woman should have the right to an abortion. Why should the government dictate what I can and can't do with my own body? This is where certain members of my family and I may disagree.

The sad thing about this disagreement is that this has, in my opinion, too much to do with their religious beliefs. If their church believed (somehow) that a woman's right to choose was theirs, they would believe it too. If the church says that global warming is not man-made, then they believe it too. If their church believed that jumping off a cliff is the wish of their God, they would (unquestionably?) do it. (Though I might resort to that if I was terminally ill and lived outside of Oregon too.)

If you don't want an abortion or to "die with dignity," don't do it. Nobody is forcing you to. That's what makes it a choice. That is the beauty of it: everyone can do what they choose. Many times, these choices don't directly effect anybody else but the person who is making the decision. It is not something that anyone else's conscience has to deal with but the person who is making the decision. Try stay out of it & try to be supportive of their decision instead- these decisions are hard enough. You have no right to tell me what is best for me.

Today, as I read through the Oregon Death with Dignity Act website, it felt so strange to be actually thinking about this as a possibility in my future. I could find out that I have cancer tomorrow. Or I could find out that I have some other terminal illness 40 years from now. Either way, the thought of the reality of a decision like that is highly emotional. And I don't just mean the thought of it, I mean the thought of being in the actual situation that would force someone to choose. Think about that for a minute... really... Some of us are in denial before anything even happens.

I don't really know what the moral of my blog is today. Perhaps I am just trying to prepare family and friends for the worst in the future. You never know when it is your turn. Most of the time, you have no control over it.

If you don't already have a will, I highly recommend that you begin to at least think about and document your wishes on paper. You can even avoid attorneys altogether by doing one online: www.nolo.com, though I am not entirely sure of the legality of these- it might be worth your time to investigate and ask some questions about it. Even if your wishes are not legally documented, your family will still have an idea of what you want to happen after you are gone. The problem with not having a will, a living will, a trust, etc., is that a judge may determine what happens to your children, belongings, assets, etc.

Here is a list of things to start thinking about and/or documenting:

-Name a trustee. A trustee may be a family member or a friend, someone who is neutral in making decisions.

-Name a Personal Representative (aka, "Executor") This should be the person you trust the most, someone who understands you, respects who you are and what your beliefs and wishes may be even if they don't agree with them and will execute your will as you intended.

-If you have children or pets, name someone to care for them. Foster care, anyone?

-Decide what you want done in different medical situations/emergencies. (Living Will) Do you want to be resuscitated? Kept on life support if death is certain?

-Decide who you want to have Power of Attorney. This is the person who makes decisions for you and acts on your behalf if you are unable to do so.

-Decide who you want your property to go to. (Be specific or general.) You don't want your grandmother's wedding ring to go to your sister-in-law, do you? You can also "give" everything to one person to distribute as he/she feels appropriate.

Also important, but not will-related:

-Consider purchasing life insurance and be sure to name a beneficiary. My dear high school friend and finance genius, Gene, says to stay away from "Accidental Death" policies- less than 1% of these policies actually pays out. "Accidental Death" is an option that you add to a life insurance policy. Thanks Gene!

-Be sure you name a beneficiary or P.O.D. (Payable On Death) for all of your retirement, bank and other accounts of value.

This post probably seems very morbid and for some of you, premature ("I'm young- there's no need for me to have a will."), but I cannot stress enough that you never know when your time is up, no matter what age you are. The deaths that I've had to endure in the past few years were tragic, unexpected, relatively young deaths that offered no warning whatsoever.

The Story of... STUFF

2009-01-12T09:48:00.000-08:00

The best 20-minute reality check I've had in a while. It's even kid-friendly! A must-see for everyone.

While many of us already knew that we as Americans waste and consume way more than we should, this video makes you rethink your habits... hopefully encouraging action.

Please watch The Story of Stuff.

A Really Good Week

2008-11-12T13:59:00.000-08:00

It has been a good week. Barack Obama was elected president and I passed my LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) exam.

First off- everybody, please lower your expectations.

Obama has a lot of really hopeful, really fired up people to please in the coming years, but I warn you- in the words of Bill Moyers: "He will disappoint. Presidents always do." I am surely one of those hopeful people, but I don't expect President-elect Obama to be superhuman. Things happen slowly in government (unless, of course, you are a struggling bank) and with the enormity of the problems Mr. Obama will take on beginning in January, he would have to be a superhero to "fix" them all very quickly.

As far as my recent name suffix, "LEED AP," I don't expect to actually use what I learned in a direct way anytime soon. I work in a 3-person residential architecture firm that mostly does budget-friendly additions and remodels. Sure, I will use the ideas from the LEED rating system, but I can't imagine getting any of our projects LEED certified.

...But it is still a good week.

I'm an Aunt Again!

2008-10-06T17:08:00.000-07:00

Awwww.... Doesn't she look so warm & cozy & cuddly?

Giada Raine

(pronounced Jee-AH-duh, or "Gia" for short)

Born: Friday, October 03, 2008

Time of Birth: 12:41 AM

Weight: 7 lbs 8.5 oz

Length: 18 inches

Congratulations Austin & Chanda!

Wind Farms are Sexy... and Other Adventures

2008-09-30T17:15:00.000-07:00

Sometimes you just gotta get away. By yourself. I took a long weekend to get away in the incredible Pacific Northwest. I spent two nights at my favorite campsite near Mt. Hood and one night at the sardine can campground better known as Deschutes River State Recreation Area where the Deschutes River meets the Columbia River... not really my idea of camping, especially because the county fire marshal wouldn't allow campfires there. (In-depth critique later in this post.)

Night One: The First Presidential Debate

I risked not receiving a radio signal by going camping that first night, but I thought, hey- if I can get cell phone service out there, surely I can get a radio signal... luckily, I was right. Although it was a bit fuzzy, I listened while I was setting up camp. There were no surprises for both the debate and for the campsite- the same back and forth bickering and accusations and the same cloudless night sky complete with millions of stars and nearly nobody around...

Day One: A Whole Lotta Nothin'- Just what I needed.

I journaled, read, lounged on the "beach" of the river- quality Nicole time- something I haven't had for quite a while. It was good to cleanse and purge, to reflect and anticipate, to remember and to try to forget. I didn't even leave the campground until the next day. I didn't need to. Everything I needed was right there- the river, the clear blue sky, fresh air, me.

Night Two: Fire!

I have been rightly accused of putting out fires in the past. Not the ones that need to be put out- like the ones that occur when something goes wrong at work- those are usually not a problem and those "fires" need to be put out.... I'm talking about campfires. Campfires that are essential for heat on chilly September nights and for cooking food while camping. My problems with campfires are that I want to blow on the fire at the wrong time or I want to continually "stir" it up and make it bigger, which tends to have the opposite effect. Anyway- my goal was to teach myself to keep a fabulous fire going.

I have to say- the key to keeping a good fire going is to have a good supply of all sizes of dry, burnable wood. The small stuff/paper (aka "kindling"), sticks, and the big stuff. Then, it's just a matter of putting the kindling in the center and piling out from there smallest to biggest, and then adding the appropriate sizes depending on the life of the fire. Wow. I didn't know this fire thing would be so easy! Lucky for my previous accusers, I have proof of my success. Three hours after ignition, here was my fire- nice and hot:

I felt like I should beat my chest and exclaim, "I have made fire!" like Tom Hanks did in Cast Away...

Day Two: White River Falls and Maryhill Sitings Project

I like to take a new route whenever I can, so from Mt. Hood I went east and then north instead of going north through Hood River and then east on I-84. Once I was out of Mt. Hood National Forest, I thought I'd made a big mistake. Soon I was proven wrong. The tiny little town of Tygh Valley is absolutely gorgeous! While I don't recommend going out of your way to see this rural metropolis, it is one of those quaint sleepy towns that I'm surprised NOT to see in any movies... yet. Or maybe it IS in some movie, I don't know...

Also along this scenic route of mine was quite possibly the smallest state park I've visited in a while. (Let it be known that I don't visit a lot of state parks.) I was prepared for disappointment (again), but (again) I was wrong. White River Falls State Park is really gorgeous- the White River plummets 90 feet over basalt cliffs. There is a short trail that leads down to the bottom of the falls where the river is calm again. At the bottom is the ruins of the hydroelectric power plant that supplied electricity to the surrounding counties until The Dalles Dam was built in 1960.

Next stop: Maryhill Museum. I actually didn't go inside the museum- what I wanted to see was free and outdoors on the Maryhill Museum grounds. The Sitings Project was designed by Portland architect Brad Cloepfil of Allied Works. When I first saw photos of this project, I was convinced that Brad came to Montana State University School of Architecture and copied my idea from my 3rd year design project, which set the stage for my thesis. One of the photos I took while I was there is the exact rendering I did for both projects. Whether he stole my idea or not- his got built and there I was taking way too many photos of it... I love concrete.

Final Stop for the day: Deschutes River State Recreation Area. While I don't recommend this campground one bit, I can see how all the fishermen love it. I think there were 60 people fishing the Deschutes within view of the campground and three people at my camp loop gutted salmon the size of a small toddler. Minus the campground, the setting was amazing- rolling hills in the background with the river flowing gracefully over and around greenery and rocks with trees at the river's edge that allowed the sunset to sparkle in the river like sequins.

The problems with this campground: campfires were NOT allowed and the campsites were nearly on top of each other. There was actually a line in the grass that separates each site from the adjacent one. Strategic car parking and tent setup was key for any privacy whatsoever. If there wasn't a river right next to me creating white noise, I could have heard the people next to me breathing.

Day Three: The Grand Finale

I love wind farms. They make me happy.

(I'm glad this photo isn't scratch & sniff- after 3 nights of camping, I was pretty ripe...)

I toured the Biglow Wind Farm outside of Rufus, Oregon. I'm puzzled as to how a piece of machinery can be so beautiful. Perhaps it is the romance of renewable energy that has me so in love.

The 76 turbines I saw are only phase I of three phases that will produce enough electricity to power 100,000 homes. These turbines don't generate power that goes directly to your home even if you are a renewable energy customer- the power is transferred to a grid that includes hydroelectric power from the John Day Dam/substation on the Columbia River.

Some fun facts about these turbines (from my tour handout and from all of my stupid questions):

When the tip of the blade is straight up, the height is 396 feet tall.
Each turbine weighs 246 tons.
The towers are 13 feet in diameter at the base and 7 feet in diameter at the top, just below the nacelle (aka, the "motor" behind the blades).
Each turbine costs $3 million installed.
The concrete footing that holds these in the ground is 52 feet in diameter and contains 340 yards of concrete.
Each turbine blade is 131 feet long and weighs 16,000 lbs.
Rotors turn at 14.4 rotations per minute, with the blade tip speed at more than 130 mph.
To stop the turbine, the computer inside the tower rotates the blades to be parallel with the wind direction (as opposed to perpendicular for power generation).

I'm smitten....

(Can you kinda see Mt. hood in the background in this one? Damn forest fires...)

This is Why I Love Portland

2008-08-28T10:25:00.001-07:00

Fish (Oil) Never Tasted So Good

2008-08-25T18:00:00.000-07:00

When I find a really great product, I feel it is my duty to tell the world that it is something we simply can’t live without. I apologize if this sounds like an advertisement, but Barlean’s "Omega Swirl" Fish Oil Supplement is a miracle in a bottle. I don’t know how Barlean’s did it- but they took the fishy taste out of fish oil!

The Product

About a year ago, I bought this huge bottle of regular “orange flavored” fish oil and tried to take two teaspoons daily… and I did- for a while. I just couldn’t get over the fishy taste. Eventually it made me gag- even with a chaser. I finally realized that I wasn’t going to ingest anymore of that stuff, but that the benfits of fish oil were too great for me to pass up. I went to Pharmaca (my favorite natural products & supplements store) with the intention of buying a bottle of fish oil pills. After asking my normal slew of stupid questions, the Pharmaca expert suggested Barlean’s Omega Swirl. I was really skeptical at first, especially because this expert told me that there was absolutely no trace of the fishy taste in this fish oil. Then I was reminded of Pharmaca’s no-questions-asked/no-hassle return policy.... (Added benefit: Barlean’s is actually cheaper than fish oil pills, so I was sold.)

I got home and promptly busted out the teaspoon and removed the safety seal to taste my new purchase. I was prepared to plug my nose for fear of that unbearable fish taste and I’m sure I had that “ew” look on my face prior to swallowing.

I’m not kidding- this stuff might be my new substitute for dessert… it’s THAT good!! It tastes like a little shot of lemon custard…. and not even a hint of fishy taste! Mmmmm. It’s a good thing that there’s a limit to how much of this stuff you can intake, because I might be at the fridge in the middle of the night squirting the bottle directly into my mouth.

The Benefits

So, in case you didn’t know how fabulous fish oil (and other omega-3 fatty acid food sources) is for you, I have compiled a summary of the benefits of fish oil.

Fish Oil and Omega-3s reduce:
-Inflammation (including inflammation from arthritis)
-LDL cholesterol (bad cholesterol)
-triglycerides
-blood pressure
-buildup of atherosclerotic plaques (aka, "hardening of the arteries")
-risk of stroke
-risk of heart attack & heart disease
-risk of dangerous abnormal heart rhythms
-risk of strokes
-risk of cancer
-risk of Alzheimer’s disease
-risk and symptoms of Parkinson’s disease
-risk and symptoms of multiple sclerosis
-risk and symptoms of dementia
-risk and symptoms of schizophrenia
-risk and symptoms of diabetes
-risk of premature delivery in pregnant women

Effective in Treating:
-depression
-brittle hair and nails
-fatigue
-gastrointestinal disorders (including Crohn’s disease)

-pain

-inflammation

Increases:
-HDL cholesterol (good cholesterol) levels
-serotonin production

Improves:
-memory
-fetus development
-skin

Barlean's Omega Twist is found in the refrigerated aisle of your local health food store. Go fish.

How to Remove that Kerry/Edwards or Bush '04 Sticker

2008-08-21T13:41:00.000-07:00

In a couple of days, those bumper stickers will be obsolete. The leading Democratic and Republican candidates will announce their running mates and accept their nominations. And if you try to stick your new Obama sticker on top of that Kerry/Edwards sticker- it just won't stick until the 2012 elections, so please- do us all a favor and remove the old sticker properly so that we can reminisce about the 2008 elections for the next four years. I know- it's hard to let go of the '04 election and all the chaos in Ohio and Florida, but it's been four long years and, like I told Hillary, it's time to move on.

Here are directions for removing your outdated election bumper sticker (you may need a razor blade if you have been watching Olympic swimming and track & field events- they are nail-biters):

1. Go outside to your car.

2. Start by scraping diagonally from one corner of the sticker inward toward the center of the sticker until there is sufficient material to grab with your thumb and forefinger.

3. Simply pull the loosened corner (with your thumb and forefinger) diagonally until the sticker is completely removed. It's like magic.

4. Thoroughly clean the bumper where you envision your new election sticker. Allow to dry completely.

5. Attach your new bumper sticker according to directions.

I've heard the McCain stickers are extra sticky, so you might try sticking your McCain-Romney sticker directly on top of your "W '04" sticker.

By the way- I recently made a trip back to Bozeman, Montana- (widely regarded as Republican country) where I went to college. I was shocked to see NOT ONE McCain bumper sticker, but quite a few Obama stickers and yard signs...

Peanut Butter Honey Balls

2008-06-25T12:55:00.000-07:00

Just made these last night and I ate one before boot camp this morning... yum! They are so easy to make. (I am a huge fan of fewer ingredients.) Great nutritionals too!

Peanut Butter Honey Balls

Makes 12 servings

1/2 cup peanut butter
1 cup uncooked oatmeal
1/2 cup honey
3/4 cup instant non-fat dry milk
1/2 cup wheat germ (or oat bran- it's what I used)
1/2 cup raisins (optional)

Mix all ingredients together and roll into 1" balls. Refrigerate.

I also added some flax seed meal for added omega-3 fatty acids and fiber without the added carbohydrates. I didn't need to adjust the recipe for this addition, but keep in mind that the batter should be kinda sticky, so you may have to.

Nutrition Information (without flax or raisins):

Serving size: 61g (1/12 recipe)

Calories: 237

Fat: 7 g

Cholesterol: 3 mg

Sodium: 126 mg

Carbohydrates: 37 g

Fiber: 3 g

Sugar: 20 g

Protein: 11g

The Perfect City (...In My Mind Anyway)

2008-06-06T09:28:00.001-07:00

An acquaintance of mine is leaving Portland for good. She and her boyfriend are moving to either San Francisco or New York City after an extended stay abroad. She is not moving because she dislikes Portland, she is moving because she is ready for change and because she wants to see the world.

In a way, her move puzzles me. Personally, I LOVE it here. I can't imagine not living in such a fabulous city. A city that is not too big or too small, is political enough, has varied terrain, has and extensive trail system in and outside the city limits, is within an hour's drive of mountains, the ocean and numerous rivers, is green (in more than one way) and is organized, progressive and well-maintained. I suppose the only thing that is missing here is a bit cultural diversity (as well as some sunshine this week).... hence the reason why I try to take and international vacation every year.... but back to the subject at hand....

I mean, I can imagine living other places- Europe, Africa, Latin America, a tropical island in the middle of the nowhere. But I don't know that I would be happy or appreciative anywhere else in the USA. I have considered briefly New York City or maybe Boston, the Oregon coast or possibly Hood River, and I dearly miss my Bozeman, but all those places don't compare at all to Portland. They are either too big, too small, too republican or too landlocked. And they also lack cultural diversity. I want the (small) big city, the easyness, the 30-minute rush hour, great public transportation (in some areas it's free), the bike lanes and Powell's Books, the best food, coffee and beer in the world, an openly gay mayor, Mac users galore.... there is no place like home.

But I am not the only one. I have talked to people who know people who live or have lived in Portland and they go on and on about how much they love Portland too. Most of my Portland friends love it here- they have no plans for leaving. Every person who comes to visit me here loves it- especially the people who visit that used to live here.... It's kinda like smelling a cigarette after you've quit smoking, but without the deadly side effects. (Actually, the aroma of Ken's Artisan bread is healthy for you....)

Perhaps I have become too comfortable here. Perhaps I have become lazy. Perhaps leaving this place that has everything I could ever want and need is too much for my psyche to consider. Am I scared of change? I suppose it's possible. But that doesn't explain why I would drop everything in a heartbeat to move to a foreign country if I had the option.... Or perhaps I am lucky. I have a palatable job and I don't want to go back to school. I love my lifestyle, I love my condo, I love the possibilities I have here, I love my place in this place.

Maybe this really is the perfect city.

(For me, at least.)

Thank Goodness There Won't Be Any PMS in the White House

2008-06-04T16:12:00.000-07:00

Hillary- Seriously. Are you PMSing? Or just bitter?

Get over yourself and admit defeat. This is ridiculous and it isn't doing the democratic party any good. Haven't you heard- we need to bring the party together. TO-GE-THER.

You didn't win the popular vote no matter how you manipulate the numbers. And you didn't win the Democratic nomination. So pick up the phone and give Barack a call and congratulate him. You fought a good fight, but its over for another four years. Now get to work and rally your followers behind the Democratic nominee.

This stubbornness is exactly the reason why you shouldn't be president. (And also your superficial disposition as well as your arrogance.)

Flat

2008-05-19T12:36:00.000-07:00

The world is a better place. I know how to change a flat tire.

Although I am elated that I learned such a basic but essential skill, I only wish it had not happened in 90 degree weather. And without the involvement of any live animals.

And the story goes like this....

I had just picked up the kitty of a friend of a friend for a "trial" run for owning a hairy pet. I could tell within seconds of driving away from my rockstar parking spot that the tire was flat- I'd had a flat n my pickup a few years before. I wasn't that far away from my house, so I thought I might make it at least to a gas station or to a tire store that was close to my house, but I barely got down the street and I knew that was not the case. I got to a gas station (not full service) and put my 50 cents in the air machine (it amazes me that you have to PAY for AIR) to try to fill the tire up enough to get back to my neighborhood.

Hissssssssssss.

Nothing.

Maybe I had placed it incorrectly on the valve stem.

Hissssssssssss.

Nothing.

Ok, plan B: call Les Schwab. At about this time, I was really wishing I still had that roadside assistance from my insurance company. Or AAA. Or a handy boyfriend.

Les Schwab: 2 hours until they could make it to me. Let me remind you that I have a live cat in the back seat and he is already freaking out from the trauma of being taken from his home, put in a cardboard vegetable box and then put in a car on a scorching hot day. So, I put my name on the list hoping that they were doing the Domino's Pizza thing and telling me way longer than it would actually take them to arrive.

By this time, my blood pressure was through the roof. If this cat croaked in my car, not only would I have to explain to the owner that we didn't even make it to my house, my car would be cursed from the death. And I love my car. I also saw this as a sign. A sign that perhaps this cat thing wasn't meant to be. More on that later.

Plan C: call Andrew. Let me preface this next part by saying that I absolutely HATE asking people for favors unless they are my boyfriend. And Andrew is not my boyfriend. (I hate asking people so much that I payed movers for the first time in my life when I moved last time.) But Andrew is one of those people who will do anything for a friend- no questions asked. Boy, am I lucky he is a my friend. And that he answered his phone. He came out in 90 degree heat, got dirty on the parking lot and put my spare tire on for me.

I made sure that I knew each and every step that he was taking so that when this happens again, I can do it myself. He even narrated and told me all the "tricks" like loosening the opposite lug nut instead of going around in a circle.... if you don't, it puts weird shear on the bolts and you won't be able to loosen the others. It makes sense!!

I suppose I am lucky that the flat didn't happen while I was on the freeway (I had just taken the freeway to pick up the kitty!) And I like to take the I-405 bridge waaaaay faster than I am supposed to!

So, back to the kitty. I have decided that owning a hairy pet is not for me. If I had a roommate to share the responsibility, that would be great. Not only can I not deal with the mess very well (I barely have time or energy to clean up after myself), my condominium is just not set up for containing a curious cat. So, I will be passing the kitty back this week. I feel a bit guilty because I arranged the kitty trial period before I left for Mexico and although I told his owner to give him away if he found a home before I returned from Mexico, he told me that I was the best candidate and that he was glad to wait.... it breaks my heart. The cat is so sweet and so well-behaved. And he's already bonded with me, which is why I want to give him back ASAP to prevent any more attachment. That sounds so callous, but I have to do it.

Back to the Real World, again

2008-05-13T17:05:00.000-07:00

Hola Amigos!

I really really really meant to blog while I was in Mexico, but there was so much to do: nap on the beach, work hard on my tan, eat & drink, play in the waves, sea kayak, visit some Mayan ruins, eat & drink, snorkel, get a mud treatment and massage, eat & drink... It just seemed that I didn't have the time for the computer this trip.

Actually, I could have blogged. The thing is- this wasn't really one of those introspective "finding Nicole" trips. I didn't go by myself and I really didn't want to spend a lot of time online. It was not difficult to not have technology at my fingertips and it was not difficult to disconnect from news and politics back home. It was rather refreshing to do pretty much nothing- just relax and have fun. I even got up early one morning and watched the sunrise...

Poolside in Cancun... my new favorite cervesa- Modelo Light- in my cozy....

Look what I found in Mexico!
The bi-otch in Tulum
Sunrise

Bicycles at Coba

Tulum Ruins
The cabana next door
My boys- Matty and Anders
Xel-Ha
I thought they were called boobies?
Fresh pineapple

Who's got Game?

2008-04-29T14:24:00.000-07:00

I have been pretty tight-lipped (at least on my blog) until now about politics. I've struggled with whether or not to include politics as a topic here or not. Believe me, I could go on and on and on about this whole primary season, but then I wouldn't have time for much else.

I just can't do it any longer.

After reading this article about Barack playing basketball with the Tar Heels, I still can't understand how anyone would consider voting for anyone else but Barack Obama.

Wouldn't it be great to say, "My president has a passion, and it's NOT oil or money!" And, "My president admits his mistakes." And, "My president is humble and compassionate."

In case you have been living in a cave (or a red state) for the past year, the two democratic nominees for president are in a close race. While Hillary Clinton can be bought out by pharmaceutical companies and other rich corporations and people, Barack refuses to take campaign money from them... And he still out-raises both of his opponents at least two to one.

Think about that for just a minute. If the average personal (private) donation is $100 and Barack can raise that much more campaign money than Hillary Clinton and John McCain, what does that say about the common people who support him?

...Wouldn't this be a great presidential photo?

...and I don't even care much about basketball....

Beer and Babies

2008-02-19T13:31:00.000-08:00

I don't mean to appear that I am marketing here... wait a second- who am I kidding. I am totally marketing. My dear friend Laura and her non-profit, Hands to Hearts International, has a new baby massage video available for viewing online!

Baby massage has many benefits including increased cognitive capacity, trust & attachment development and emotional, mental & physical health. The DVD, when available for purchase, makes a great gift for mothers and fathers-to-be!

Here is the video with Romanian subtitles. (Thanks for translating, Ioan!)

In related news, I am helping Hands to Hearts International to put on the 3rd annual fundraiser on Thursday, February 28th at Bridgeport Brewpub and Bakery in northwest Portland at 7pm.
There will be many fabulous silent auction items including a weekend at the beach, massage packages, handmade Indian textiles, HHI-in-Action photographs and much more!
Tickets are $45 and available through me or through Laura.
I hope to see you there!

Star*ucks

2007-11-29T17:49:00.000-08:00

Occasionally I write to companies that give extraordinary service or experiences. I also frequently write to companies who give appalling service or experiences or companies that I feel are doing something fundamentally wrong or hypocritical. I feel this is my duty as a consumer. I mean, if a restaurant's management doesn't KNOW that their waitress is a total bitch to customers, which gives that company a bad reputation and in turn causes the establishment to lose business, then someone ought to tell them, right? I am not trying to get anyone fired, I'm just a secret, secret shopper only the company isn't paying me to "shop." (Dammit.)

This summer, I wrote to Starbucks. (Among others.)

One morning before work, I stopped at Starbucks on my way to work. The line was nearly out the door and every table was occupied. I'm sure this is a normal thing for Starbucks- I mean my coffee is consistently the same. Every time I go there. Unfortunately, every table had at least one paper cup with that proud green logo on it and not one person in that line was carrying their own mug except for me. There must have been 40 paper cups being used in that particular Starbucks JUST during the time I was there.

I know, I know- you are thinking, "How petty is this complaint, Nicole?" (I proudly accept the title of Recycle Nazi by the way- I'm the one taking used Starbucks cups out of the trash, removing the paper cozy and putting it in the recycle bin.) But these enormous corporations have the opportunity to make the largest impact solely because they are so large. Starbucks could not tell me how many cups of coffee they sell or how many cups they actually use in a day, so I can't give you any accurate data here. But there ARE more than 13,000 Starbucks worldwide (11,000 in the US as of February 2007). You do the math. That's a lotta friggin' waste, people.

The problem I see is that Starbucks doesn't offer reusable ceramic mugs. If you purchase one cup of coffee every day in a disposable container, you create about 23 pounds of waste each year. You can't recycle those "soiled" paper cups, only the cozy! This could be solved by asking one simple question, Mr. or Mrs. Starbucks: Did you want that for here or to go?

I'm sure Starbucks treats their employees well. (I've heard they even pay for health insurance.) Their employees always seem to be friendly, so I'm definitely not complaining about the service. A friend of mine used to work at Starbucks and says they don't even do anything with their coffee grounds- and they brew new coffee EVERY 15 MINUTES, no matter how much of the previous brew has been sold. And, she says, they barely even recycle.

The following is an excerpt from Starbucks Environmental Mission Statement. (Not to be confused with Starbucks' MISSION STATEMENT which contains eight items including "Contribute positively to our communities and our environment.")

Starbucks is committed to a role of environmental leadership in all facets of our business. We fulfill this mission by a commitment to:

•Understanding of environmental issues and sharing information with our partners.
•Developing innovative and flexible solutions to bring about change.
•Striving to buy, sell and use environmentally friendly products.
•Recognizing that fiscal responsibility is essential to our environmental future.
•Instilling environmental responsibility as a corporate value.
•Measuring and monitoring our progress for each project.
•Encouraging all partners to share in our mission.

...and from Starbucks "Environmental Fact Sheet":

Starbucks Support Center:
Starbucks considers recyclability, reusability and recycled content in its purchasing decisions. Efforts are aimed at reducing
packaging, and Starbucks has set a target of 30 percent post-consumer content in all paper purchases.
Retail: Reusing and Recycling
Starbucks offers a $0.10 discount to customers who bring in their own commuter mug. In 2003, customers used their own mugs 13.5 million times, which prevented more than 586,000 pounds of paper waste from reaching landfills. Starbucks seeks to recycle cardboard boxes, milk jugs and other waste products where commercial recycling facilities exist.

The following is the letter I wrote to Starbucks:

It seems to me that your mission statement and environmental mission statement would be honored best if you offered your customers their coffee to drink "for here" (or to go.) By this I mean you should offer to serve your coffee in reusable mugs that Starbucks owns and rewashes. I think it's great that you give 10 cents off of personal mugs, but I don't believe that has gone far enough in the environmentally conscious direction. I don't know how many cups of coffee you serve everyday, but there seems to be a Starbucks at every other corner everywhere I go here in the US and I always see tables OCCUPIED AT your Starbucks, which means that thousands, perhaps millions of PAPER CUPS and PLASTIC LIDS as well as PAPER CUP COZIES could be spared EVERYDAY. While I appreciate that these things may be recycled or made from recycled products, again, you could go farther and do a whole lot better for the environment. Do you know how many drinks you serve in paper cups daily, nationwide? Please consider saving about 1/4 of the waste your company creates by doing this simple, environmentally friendly thing...

Thank you.

...and the response I got, 17 days later:

Hello Nicole,

Thank you for contacting Starbucks Coffee Company with your questions regarding our recycling efforts.

Starbucks is committed to protecting and improving the environment, and is continually pursuing opportunities to reduce, reuse, and recycle our waste products where commercial facilities exist. Most of our retail store recycling is conducted "behind the scenes" in the back room (boxes, milk jugs, etc.). If you are not certain that recycling is taking place in a store, please ask a store manager; he/she can explain what we are doing, what is recyclable in the local area, and what the landlord will allow for waste disposal. One of our challenges is that some parts of the country can process more recyclable materials than others. We are working with a recycling subcontractor to locate local recycling facilities to process materials generated from each store.

In addition to our retail stores, recycling programs exist in our other facilities, including Starbucks Support Center, our global headquarters in Seattle, and our roasting plants in Kent, Washington; York, Pennsylvania; and Carson Valley, Nevada. Additionally, we consider recylability, reusability and recycled content in our paper and packaging purchases to reduce our impact on the environment. Last year, Starbucks paper products contained 26% post consumer recycled content. We have targeted 30% post-consumer content for all future paper purchases.

On the waste reduction side, we are focused on encouraging reuse of coffee grounds by packaging them and giving them to customers to use as a soil amendment in their gardens. We also offer customers a 10 cent discount each time they use their commuter mug to enjoy their Starbucks beverage. Last year, our customers used their own mugs 13.5 million times, which prevented 586,800 pounds of paper waste from reaching landfills. Reusing coffee grounds and the commuter mug discount complement our recycling efforts because they help to minimize the amount of waste that is produced in each store.

Please know that we appreciate your comments and that we take our responsibility to the environment very seriously. Your concerns will be forwarded to our utility specialist, who manages in-store recycling for North America. If you have additional questions or comments, please contact us at info@starbucks.com or call 1-800-235-2883 to speak directly with a customer relations representative.

Thank you again for contacting Starbucks Coffee Company.

Sincerely,
Marian L.

No thank you Marian L. ROBOT! I wonder how many letters they get with my same complaint? It must be a common one- this is a well-crafted auto response! Copy-paste, copy-paste...

If YOU feel the need to let Star*ucks know how you feel, please send your letter to:

Starbucks Customer Relations
PO Box 3717
Seattle, WA 98124-3717

Or fill out an online comment form at: http://www.starbucks.com/customer/contact_forms.asp?nav=3f
You can also give them a call at the phone number above.

Perhaps the issue here is partially our fault as consumers- we have no excuse NOT to bring our own reuseable mugs if Starbucks refuses to supply them (I'm sure they aren't struggling financially), so I guess this blog/letter is partly for you, my friends. If you are a coffee drinker, surely you OWN a commuter mug. Why aren't you using it?

Save the Earth- bring your OWN mug!

PS- I don't know of ONE locally owned coffee shop that only uses disposable cups...

English Lesson #1- the Apostrophe

2007-11-21T12:44:00.001-08:00

Just like I hate misspelled words (especially on menus, publications and billboards), I hate apostrophe misuse and other punctuation errors. So, I have decided to take us back to the 3rd grade. Let's review:

An apostrophe is either POSSESSIVE or it takes the place of a letter when combining two words which creates a CONTRACTION.

POSSESSIVE

In case your vocabulary is also rusty, "possessive" means that something possesses something else, for example:

•Nicole's underwear (they are MY underwear, I possess them.)

•Jason Statham's naked body (it is Jason Statham's naked body, HE possesses it.... I'll keep the personal comments to myself.)

•my friends' beer (the beer is the possession of my friends which is plural. Note how the plural apostrophe goes AFTER the "s" and how another "s" is NOT added after the apostrophe in this case?)

REMEMBER:
Possessive pronouns (such as yours, hers, its, and ours) take NO apostrophe.
•I believe these underwear are yours. (NOT: I believe these underwear are your's. Your's is not a word.)

CONTRACTIONS

The apostrophe is also used to replace omitted letters in contractions.

you're/your
you are = you're (apostrophe replaces the "a")
•You are totally hot.
•You're totally hot.

But your is possessive:
•Are these your underwear?

it's/its (This one is the worst, I see it everywhere.)
It's is a contraction for it is. It's is NEVER a possessive!
•It is almost Thanksgiving.
•It's almost Thanksgiving.

But Its is the possessive for it.
•The tree has lost its leaves. (the leaves are/were the possession of the tree.)

REMEMBER:
The apostrophe NEVER designates the plural form of a noun!
•How many days are left in George's term? (NOT: How many day's are left in George's term?)

Must-Have Food: Fage Total 0% Greek Yogurt

2007-11-15T13:02:00.000-08:00

There are some foods that you just can't go wrong eating- Tofu Shirataki, almonds, quinoa, edamame.... and Fage (pronounced Fa-yeh) Total 0% Greek Yogurt! This stuff is like a miracle in a cup! It's super creamy and a bit tart, so try it mixed with some sugar free jam or some fresh fruit. It's hard to beat these stats:

Serving size: 150g (5.3 oz.)
CALORIES: 80 (!)
TOTAL FAT: 0g (!)
Cholesterol: 0mg
Sodium: 55mg
TOTAL CARB: 6g (!)
SUGARS: 6g
PROTEIN: 13g (!)

Friday's Virgo Horoscope

2007-11-09T09:39:00.000-08:00

Some days it is scary how accurate these are....

If closure is frustratingly slow in coming, stop waiting around for it, today. Things are settling down nicely enough to give you a firm foundation to move forward upon, so feel free to go ahead. Lingering feelings of guilt, regret or anger need to just settle inside you for a while. You can come back and deal with these feelings when you're ready. Keep things quiet, and don't put too much pressure on yourself to be happy all the time -- it's just not healthy.

Nicole's Best Restaurants in Portland

2007-11-08T09:53:00.000-08:00

Agree or disagree? Did I forget somewhere?

Bakery: Ken's Artisan Bakery
Brunch: Equinox, Stepping Stone, Industrial Cafe & Saloon
Dessert: Papa Haydn (Cassata), Pix
Donuts: VooDoo, duh!
French: Chez Machin, Le Happy (Salade Crepe)
Indian: Swagat (Sorry, Milan and Darsh's house isn't a restaurant)
Italian: Caffe Mingo
Latin: Pambiche
Malaysian: Kinta Restaurant
Mexican: classy- Cha, DF; not-so-classy- Muchas Gracias
Middle Eastern: Nicholas
Pizza: Pizza Oasis, Interstate Bowl
Pub Food: Laurelwood (nachos, chili, fries)
Seafood: Jake's
Southern: Screen Door
South American: Andina
Southwestern/TexMex: Esparza's
Sushi: Masu (Sq'eel roll!)
Thai: Monsoon, Thai Basil
Tibetan: Lungta
Vegetarian: Farm Cafe

Cheap: Muchas Gracias
Garlic Fries: Laurelwood
Mac & cheese: Le Bistro Montage (Spicy Mac or Tomato Pesto Mac. Surprisingly, their service has improved since they got credit card machines. Hmm.)
Cheese Sticks: Triple Nickel
Late Night: Muchas Gracias (24 hours), Holman's
Fast Food: Burgerville, Muchas Gracias
Splurge: clarklewis
Most Underrated: Holden's
Most Overrated: Pok Pok, Henry's Tavern, Amnesia Brewing
Best Service: Holden's

BEVS:
Coffee: Albina Press
Tea: Tao of Tea (at the Classical Chinese Garden)
Original Mixed Drinks: Cha, DF
Stiff Drinks: The Matador
Microbrew: Bridgeport Brewing (Blue Heron)
Martini: Brazen Bean (Pomegranite martini)

ON THE TOWN:
Happy hour: East, Brazen Bean
Smoky Dive Bar: Low Brow Lounge (I MAY just like this because of the prime location amongst the Pearlies...)
Smoky Dive Bar with Shuffleboard: Gil's Speakeasy

What this town NEEDS: 1. A scandinavian restaurant, centrally located please. Be sure to serve lefse! 2. GOOD pizza in Hollywood. (Sorry Laurelwood Pizza Co.... it's not so great.)

Places I have not been yet: Apizza Scholls, Lovely Hula Hands, Gravy, Le Pigeon and all those new ice cream/yogurt joints.

And yes, I live in northwest Portland....

Summer Falls

2007-09-18T08:18:00.000-07:00

Well, folks- summer is over.

Not because school started. (I don't keep track of those dates anymore.) Not because it's September. ("Autumn" usually starts in early October in Portland- or at least there are a few fairly warm days into October.) But because I had to close all of my windows to keep the heat in last night and because my windshield had condensation on it this morning and because it is a crisp 49 degrees outside right now!!

See, I'm not talking about the calendar summer which ends on Saturday.

Man, where do my summers go these days? I remember spending hours outside daily during the summer, being really tan and fit and doing lots of FUN stuff with friends all summer long. I guess those were the days when I was a slave to education, lucky to get 3 months "off," only to work my ass of at Subway or whatever crap job I had back then. (I have come a long way.) Now almost all my friends are married (some with kids) which, to most of them, means they stay home considerably more than they used to. (We single people look down on this homebody status like they sold out, by the way, while they "feel sorry" for us singles and try to set us up with the other dwindling single friends THEY have.) Instead of going "out on the town" or hiking or whatever, they sit in their backyard; maybe invite another couple or two over for a BBQ. Hey- they don't have to "get out there," they don't have to look good anymore or get exercise- they're married! (I don't hold this same belief by the way. I think you should always take care of yourself, and not just for your wife or husband- FOR YOURSELF.)

What did I do that was fun THIS summer? I had some fabulous visitors (Dave, Kristi, Grandma & Grandpa, Uncle Mike, a couple of Australians.) I played some drunk softball. (Jell-O shots are awesome.) I went to some amazing weddings. (Probably some of the most perfect and fun weddings I have ever been to.) I turned 30. (It was one of the BEST birthdays I have ever had thanks to some dear friends... even though I chickened out bungee jumping.)

Ok, so I can't complain. It is just that life changes and I always yearn for those more carefree days when I didn't have to worry about a bills and my mortgage, counting calories and carbs, what I want to DO with my life, the war or the economy. I could just call Grandma up and invite myself over for the night (my paternal grandmother always fluffed the sheets in the dryer RIGHT before I go to bed so they're warm when I get tucked in.... she still does it. I LOVE it.) When I would walk down the street to my best friend's house and we would wander downtown or create our own fun while our parents were at work. When I would find an unsuspecting hotel and act like I was a guest (which really just means I acted like I owned the place- an overly-confident attitude) and used the pool all day. Soccer practice, swimming lessons, endless vacations, going mountain biking on the trail across the street, floating the Madison River with a six-pack of beer, camping all the time... THAT is what summer used to be.

Now that I have a "real job", the seasons blend into each other and my only "free" days are limited to Saturday and Sunday and my two-week vacation or the occasional 3-day weekend. The daily grind is a monotonous, deadening routine that usually lacks any excitement. Like many, I dread Mondays and I am always planning my next vacation. Even the DAYS blend into each other.... the WORST is when I wake up and I think it's Friday, but it's really Thursday. Ugh. Time is one big season now, with a few subtle and random changes in temperature and precipitation.

I feel sometimes as if I need another "obstacle" to conquer, like high school or college. And then I remember how burnt out I STILL am from architecture school. (The thought of going back to school makes me want to curl up in bed. Forever.) Going to school was always inevitable... I don't see my endless possibilities as I did when I was younger, even though they are even greater now. Usually, I feel restrained by budget and practicality. Sometimes I feel stuck, like I have run out of creativity or motivation to make something happen for myself. Is it that my opportunities aren't put on a plate and served up anymore? Or is it that I just don't know how to discover them now? Am I weighted down by too many worries or responsibilities? Probably it is all those things... and more.

Music Review: M.I.A., Kala

2007-09-05T16:20:00.000-07:00

Artist: M.I.A.
Album: Kala
Find it under: Electronica (iTunes $7.99!!!), Pop/Rock (Best Buy- $7.99!!!! I'm not kidding!)
Sounds like: nothing you've ever heard

This, my friends, is probably the best album I have ever owned. And YES, I DID purchase it unlike some folks who choose NOT to support their favorite artists by STEALing music. (Andrew!!)

That said, I am new to this "music reviewer" position (and I'm no musician myself) so forgive me if I don't make historical musical references and know what key a particular song is in.

Looking at the album cover, you'd think this album was a 1980s release. Looking at M.I.A. (aka Maya Arulpragasam), you'd think she was a mental patient let loose at the local second hand store. In 1983. In Africa.

She is a British-born Sri Lankan which may explain the ultra-diversity and lack of monotony throughout the album. This artist is the antithesis of Coldplay.... totally upbeat, every song is diiferent and original, she uses her voice to make cool sounds as well as to sing and rap. Just when you think the song may be losing its momentum, BOOM!- here comes another hot beat or hook or vocal from M.I.A.- totally amazing. It makes you want to dance (even if you're not a dancer), but you're not really sure how to move your body.... exactly.....

Although this may be found in the electronica section of your local music store, I'm not sure I totally agree with that genre. When I think of "electronica," I think of Prodigy, Paul Oakenfold, Radiohead or maybe Bjork- but not really M.I.A. since her music doesn't seem to be centered on the industrial/robotic/distorted sounds that machines produce for artists like Radiohead. The sounds from this album SOUND like actual instruments and human vocal chords. I don't believe this album can be classified as "Trance," "House," "Techno," "Breakbeat," "Jungle," "Hardcore" or "Downtempo." (Those are the subgenres for Electronica.... No joke. I looked it up.) Again, the extent of my "electronica" selections include only the aforementioned artists....which means I am defintitely not an expert.

The problem I see with "genres" is that people tend to dislike ENTIRE genres because they have heard limited music from it and they didn't like what they heard- even if it was 20 years ago that they heard it. Even I am guilty of this crime. I HATE country music. I absolutely DESPISE it. It gives me a headache and it makes me cranky. It is like fingernails on a chalkboard to me. Then, one day I heard and album while dining at a restaurant and I had to have it. After I fell in love with that album (much like I have with Kala) I bought the artist's previous albums.... I found out after my purchases that one of them was considered "Country." I would like to note here that the "Country" album from this artist is my least favorite, but I believe that most of the traits that I associate with country music are not present on that album, except for maybe two borderline-twangy songs. All I'm saying here is that I think you should give M.I.A. a listen even if you dislike "Electronica." Please?

"Electronic Music" from Wikipedia:
"Electronic music refers to music that emphasizes the use of electronic musical instruments or electronic music technology as a central aspect of the sound of the music....almost all recorded music today, and the majority of live music performances, depends on extensive use of electronics. Today, the term electronic music serves to differentiate music that uses electronics as its focal point or inspiration, from music that uses electronics mainly in service of creating an intended production that may have some electronic elements in the sound but does not focus upon them."

Fine. Electronica then. But if this is truly Electronica, I believe a new sub-genre has been born.

Try listening to her while running or working out. I swear she made me run faster!! The best $8 you'll ever spend.

PS- I love that I bought this album on my 30th birthday. You know how listening to certain albums take you back to a time a in your life? Maybe that summer after 9th grade? The time you were dating so-and-so? Or that trip to ____? Well this period in time (that will forever be associated with Kala) happens to be a really good one that I will have great memories of.... being 30 is fabulous!

The Big 3-0

2007-08-22T12:15:00.000-07:00

I turn 30 on Friday.

Where did the time go? Most of the time I don't FEEL old, except for the occasional 2-day hangover. Ok, gravity is beginning to take its toll too.

Shouldn't I be having a crisis or something? Shouldn’t I be dreading turning 30, crying everyday and calling my therapist and my 30+ friends in the middle of the night? (No, they have freely given me their advice… Rumor has it- 30s are the new 20s. Thank goodness.)

Strangely, I am not afraid of turning 30 (YET anyway- I have 2 days to go.) Perhaps I am in denial?

I don't have dismay about where I was “supposed to be” by now or what I “should have done” with my life by this arbitrary age... I think that is where people freak out- when they have expectations for themselves associated with a timeline. In fact, it seems to me that the only time anyone is EVER disappointed is when they have any expectations whatsoever. (Try NOT having any expectations sometime. I highly recommend it.)

I have not been elected president yet. I don't care. You all know I would be a HORRIBLE president.

I haven't been married or popped out any kids. Does it seem as if I regret it?

I am not CEO of a big corporation. Big whoop. Sounds like a lotta responsibility to me....

Does all of this make me a loser, as if I have lost my life’s purpose? Maybe to some people it does. Some people are cut out for those types of goals. Those same people have goals like having kids by 25 and being CEO by 30, ruling the world by 60. Not me.

I'm not disappointed at all with where I am with my life so far. I have a solid Master's degree. I own real estate. I have a retirement plan and a job that pays ok. I have been to a LOT of amazing places. I have met some fabulous people. I have learned a lot. I'm not saying that I don't have any regrets (I do have a couple), but I am saying that I don't think you should put a time limit on accomplishments.

My plans for the future don't have an expiration date on them. I know that one never knows when things may change drastically or when life as you know it may end, but I don't believe that the important things in life have a deadline. Just have fun. If you happen to end up in the White House one day, great. (But I hope you aren’t republican.)

It is ideal to expect the worst and prepare for the best.

Why are the decade birthdays such a big deal anyway? I had an age “crisis” at 27. What did that have to do with a multiple of nine. Or three. Anything??

….And I have to say that lots of alcohol and friends is a great distraction from reality….

Take a Poetry Break

2007-08-21T13:36:00.000-07:00

Why I Have A Crush On You, UPS Man

you bring me all the things I order
are never in a bad mood
always have a jaunty wave as you drive away
look good in your brown shorts
we have an ideal uncomplicated relationship
you're like a cute boyfriend with great legs
who always brings the perfect present
(why, it's just what I've always wanted!)
and then is considerate enough to go away
oh, UPS Man, let's hop in your clean brown truck and elope!
ditch your job, I'll ditch mine
let's hit the road for Brownsville
and tempt each other
with all the luscious brown foods —
roast beef, dark chocolate,
brownies, Guinness, homemade pumpernickel, molasses cookies
I'll make you my mama's bourbon pecan pie
we'll give all the packages to kind looking strangers
live in a cozy wood cabin
with a brown dog or two
and a black and brown tabby
I'm serious, UPS Man. Let's do it.
Where do I sign?

by Alice N. Persons, from Don't Be A Stranger

My Boot Camp Finale

2007-08-10T08:11:00.000-07:00

My horoscope for today reads:
The encouragement you've been waiting for will finally arrive today, from a very comforting source. A group of women will cheer you on and enable you to get out of your comfort zone a bit more, which will open your eyes to just how capable you actually are. People are looking out for you right now, and they want to give you the help you need -- whenever you need it. You are an important part of someone's life, and today you may finally start to understand just how important.

I'm not so sure about that last part, but the cheering women, the "encouragement I've been waiting for" and emerging from my comfort zone came this morning at approximately 5:51 am when I finally beat my stagnant mile time of 9 minutes 27 seconds.... fitting since this was my last day of Boot Camp (sadly, I can no longer afford the VERY reasonable $200/month.) I would like to preface my record time by reminding you that when I first started Boot Camp, my mile time was 11 minutes 04 seconds- f***ing SLOW!

My time this morning: 8 minutes 47 seconds.

For all the math whizzes, that's 2 minutes 17 seconds faster than the first mile I ran when I started Boot Camp in May! Still, that may not be impressive for you runners out there, but I was stuck for more than a month at around 9 minutes 25 seconds. I am SO proud! It makes me want to run everyday to keep beating it!

I cannot recommend Portland Adventure Boot Camp more. If you want to jump start your fitness program, get fit while having fun and get great support while doing it, you should try it! Daniel (previously referred to as "Sergeant") is seriously the best, most knowledgable, patient and positive trainer I have ever known. Everyday I went to camp, I would ask myself WHY I got up at 4:45 am (there is also a 9am class) to work my ass off. But after about 10 minutes of being there, I knew why- because I never have a bad day when I go to Boot Camp, I feel so energized afterwards (I don't even get sleepy at work!), Daniel gives fabulous tips and information and it is so great to be outside that early in the morning! (No, Daniel did not PAY me to write this.)

As for improving my mile time- the things that catapulted me this morning were:

1.) The first 1/4 mile is the most important. Daniel always told us to pace ourselves for the first 1/4 mile, to take it easy- but its a lot like your first semester of college: it's easier to keep a good GPA if your first semester is good, but it is REALLY hard to bring your GPA up if you have a bad first semester.... so I challenged authority and ran my butt of that first lap. (I also pulled off a pretty good sprint at the end.) My first split was 2 minutes! As long as I didn't totally run out of fuel in the next 7 minutes, I would be sittin' pretty. Which brings me to my next booster:

2.) Fuel. I drank lotsa water and ate lotsa carbs the night before. Mmmm.. leftover lasagne! Thanks Ali!

3.) Mood/Attitude. I was so discouraged by my times the last few previous miles and I know it affected my attitude. If you don't THINK you can do something, of course you can't. But if you KNOW you CAN do something, well....

4.) Music: I recommend M.I.A. My friend, we'll call her Miss Fitness, told me NOT to listen to my iPod while running because she said I needed to concentrate on my breathing. It may be true that I need to concentrate on my breathing (especially because I was getting a lot of sideaches at the beginning), but I need a distraction! If I didn't have good music, I would be concentrating on the texture of the track or something totally stupid instead of my breathing- I would be bored out of my mind!! Once again, I challenged authority. Music is emotional- it makes you feel relaxed or sad or happy or really frickin' motivated! ...and anyway, I think that the breathing thing just came naturally from all the great training that Daniel gave.

Thanks Daniel!! You are the best!

The Virgo Hike at Mt. Adams

2007-08-01T13:24:00.000-07:00

My friend Melissa invited me to go hiking and camping with her and her sister-in-law (we're all virgos!) and their dogs Judy and Molly this past weekend. I passed up the beer festival for it! I am so glad I did.... but I forgot how grueling it can be! I haven't hiked with an overnight pack since college.

The only speedbump was that the original trail the ladies had planned to hike was not accessible. A 30-foot stretch of the two-lane road was totally GONE. An older couple who live nearby said that the Forest Service was not going to repair the road for at least a year because of budget shortages. What a shame- the Gifford Pinchot National Forest is so amazingly beautiful! These photos don't begin to capture how gorgeous our hike was.

We found another trailhead nearby which was mostly uphill-UGH!. We camped at Lookingglass Lake- a small, slightly sulphuric lake that we enjoyed all by ourselves. We were warned of the flies and mosquitos by other hikers, but we camped there anyway and we had just a few. They were definitely worse on the trail during the day! Even slathering ourselves in bug cream and spray didn't seem to help on the way to camp. Unfortunately, the day after our return I found several small bites.

If you make it Mt. Adams, stop at the bakery/cafe connected to the Chevron and get a huckleberry smoothie.... mmmmm! Delicious!

Special thanks to Melissa for carrying the tent!

Mt. Hood from Mt. Adams

Lookingglass Lake from our campsite

On the way back....

iPhone Rant

2007-07-20T08:53:00.000-07:00

So, I gave in and bought an iPhone.

No, I didn't wait in a long line but yes, I did pay way too much money.

$600 to be exact. And it's more beautiful than all of the images you've seen... without even being turned on! After about 17 hours of activation problems (waiting for an activation e-mail, calling to upgrade my plan, getting my old phone de-activated WHILE my new phone was NOT (but was supposed to be) ACTIVATED, then tracking down a (now rare) payphone and being on the repulsive thing for 35 minutes) I was able to turn it on and operate- oooooooh! ahhhhhh! Man I love Apple products.

It is the most user-friendly machine... a phone, iPod, computer, Internet, camera, calendar.... all in one! I have to admit though, I almost returned the damn thing during the whole activation process. After the activation, I spent a couple of hours exploring and discovering all the functions. It didn't take long- it does a LOT but using it is so intuitive that you don't even need a manual (it doesn't come with one.) By the time I arrived at the Apple store for my "beginner's" iPhone class, I had figured nearly everything out- and I am no genius, especially with technology.

I have almost returned the iBrick (as it has been called) approximately 11 times since my purchase. In the past 13 days I have had it, I have unearthed way too many flaws- mostly things that Apple has total control over and could "fix" very simply with a software update, but they choose not to because they don't HAVE to. They want that second wave of record sales when the next version comes out- like they can't quite make a perfect product even though they COULD. That is the one thing I hate about Apple: their products are so far ahead of other products that they have ALL the power- they are so far ahead in the game that when they don't fix these things, customers can't really complain (I mean, we DO, but they don't care)- there is nothing to compare it to. All those times I came THIS CLOSE to returning it, I found something new about it or I realized that there was a function I have been using that I just can’t live without on a phone.

Naturally, I will compare my new phone to the old one- a Nokia 3120 from 2004. Ancient, I know, but it did the job and was more reliable than any boyfriend I have ever had. I dropped that Nokia down sooo many flights of concrete stairs, in the toilet (once), onto numerous streets and parking lots and it has fallen out of my (old) truck and my car (I sometimes drive with my phone in my lap and forget about it and then when I get out-- let's just say my old phone LOOKED thoroughly used. I LOVED my old Nokia....

Yesterday I filled out a survey that was e-mailed to me by AT&T. They said it would only take about 5 minutes. It took me 25 minutes. In it, I alerted them to the following flaws, which you should consider if you contemplating an iPhone purchase:

1.) I can't receive picture messages in my SMS inbox!! I get this stupid message that says: "I sent you a multimedia message. You can view my message via the internet at viewmymessage.com using MsgID v1mabb3x2 Password juts4pill"
And you can't even "click" on a link in the message and go directly THERE... and the damn phone HAS INTERNET CAPABILITIES!! How ridiculous is that? On my ultra ancient 3-year-old Nokia, I could receive photo messages sent from other camera phones. Granted, my beloved Nokia didn't HAVE a camera, but dammit I could GET PHOTOS! (F.Y.I.- I think I paid about $70 for that phone new....)

2.) I have to take 5 actions (press or slide) to dial the last number I called. (This took TWO consecutive presses of the green button on my Nokia.) I find this highly annoying.

3.) There are 25 "ringtones" to chose from (ONE of which is acceptable so EVERYone uses it) and you can't download any new ones. Some of the ringtones include: bark, bell tower, boing, crickets, duck, motorcycle, robot and sonar. Yuck. Upside: there IS a "doorbell" ringtone, so when visitors call me from the keypad at the entry to my condo building, it sounds like I have a doorbell!

4.) There are exactly 19 "wallpaper" options. You can use a photo from your iPhone camera, but the quality is not great- it's only 2 mega pixels with no flash.

5.) There is no flash for the camera.

6.) The iPhone is set up to be connected to your e-mail account so that you can check e-mail from anywhere by simply pushing the "mail" icon. Unfortunately, the e-mail accounts that this function supports are: Gmail, Yahoo, .mac and AOL.
I have Hotmail!! GRRRRRR! By the way- if you DO have a POP (e-mail) account setup on your iPhone, you can receive PHOTOS in your inbox THERE, just not in your text message inbox.

7.) The Edge network that iPhones use when there is no Wi-Fi available is sssllloooooowwwwwwww......zzzzzz......

8.) There are 12 "widgets" (aka “Internet Applications”) and 4 function buttons. You cannot add, delete or rearrange any of them. This is BS. When the hell am I going to use the "stocks" button? And- there IS room for 4 more applications…. But WHERE ARE THEY?!

But the straw that broke the camel’s back (or DIDN'T) was researching my alternatives…. I went to the AT&T retail store yesterday. I went to check out all the new innovations in cell phone technology that didn’t cost $600- I had my eye on the Blackberry Pearl in particular. I very quickly realized that I couldn’t go back to any other phone!! Even other "top of the line" phones didn't compare at all graphically or functionally. I may regret this decision to keep the iPhone- part of my struggle has been that I didn't want to buy the first version of something "so revolutionary" fearing there would be too many kinks that haven't been ironed out. Turns out, Apple seems to know about all of these kinks and just flat out refuses to iron them out for their cult following. On my first iPhone visit (before I purchased), the associate told me that all of the other phones go through 3,000 hours of testing and research & development before they can be sold in stores.... but the iPhone was tested for 10,000 hours. That made me feel a little better even if it wasn't true.

Ok, ok. So I have railed on the phone pretty hard. But, for the most part, I really like it. Really! I like it because:

1.) It’s NOT a flip-phone. I will never own a flip phone. That thing would be broken in half in a matter of days if not hours.

2.) The Calendar- this thing really is a PDA! You can set reminders, repeat events, and write notes for any date.

3.) “Notes.” This is probably my 3rd most used function. I write grocery lists, to do lists, everything here. You can even e-mail any of your lists!

4.) Ease of Use. Again, Apple makes the most intuitive products I have ever used.

5.) Durability of the Screen. I was skeptical. The AT&T associate told me that Apple had plexi-glass screens originally, but at the last minute they changed them to scratch resistant glass. So far, so good.

6.) “Visual Voicemail.” This is the most efficient voicemail system ever! You can SEE all of your voice messages by the caller’s name and arranged chronologically by date, which is also listed next to the name. All you do is “click” on a name and the message plays- no more listening to ALL the rest of the previous messages to get to the message you want to hear! And the voicemail screen has a little timeline at the bottom so if you need to hear a portion of the message again, you just slide the cursor back on the line.

7.) Text message Format. For each contact you are texting, the phone shows your entire conversation in a list- your responses are in green text bubbles and your contacts’ are in a grey (until you clear it.)

8.) “Maps.” Any address you have anywhere in your phone, you can click on and it will map it in Google for you. You can also just “click” on the maps icon and type in an address- it is Google Maps in your pocket!

9.) The Resolution is Absolutely Stunning. I don’t know that I will ever watch a movie or TV program on my iPhone, but I have watched part of “Lost” on an iPhone and it was more crisp and clear than most full-size televisions

So, now you can decide. Are you content with YOUR phone?

Dieting and Progress

2007-07-03T09:14:00.000-07:00

I have been on a superfitnessandhealth kick since I started Boot Camp at the end of April. I feel like I have always been interested in nutrition (some of what I know, I chose to ignore) and less about fitness but I realized that the things that I DO know aren't rocket science and so I have decided to share some of my health and fitness tips with you. This is really motivated by Daniel, my Boot Camp Sergeant, and also a fellow Boot Camper's blog site, "Everyday Athlete" at right. Check it out.

As a form of credibility- I was measured yesterday and I lost 1% of my body fat since the beginning of June! I also lost 5 pounds, 1 1/4" in my waist, 1/4" in my arms, 3/4" in my legs and 1/4" in my chest. Also keep in mind that I have lost 30 pounds since 2003.... and I'm vegetarian, uhhh... pescatarian.

Nicole's Top 10 Tips for Eating RIGHT

1. EAT 5-6 SMALL MEALS (or "snacks") PER DAY. You should eat "just enough" food- don’t ever gorge yourself!! You should never feel full! I like to think of this overeating as "stretching your stomach out" so that you can eat more and more and more- while your body's metabolism stays the same.... YOU do the math! I still have issues with this- I was always taught to clean my plate which is SUCH a bad habit, especially as much as I have eaten out! When you eat less, your body processes food more efficiently because it has less to process AND your stomach shrinks to its natural size so that you are full on less food.

Here is a sample day*, approved by my Boot Camp Sergeant:
At wake up: drink a full glass of water- this helps to flush out toxins.
Breakfast: 1/4 C. uncooked oatmeal (cooked according to directions) and a serving of fruit.
Mid-Morning snack: a handful of almonds and a serving of fruit
Lunch: a large salad w/ 3-4 oz. of protein. Use a small amount of light dressing or vinegar/oil.
Afternoon snack: 3/4 C. cottage cheese and a serving of fruit
Dinner: 3/4 C. quinoa or brown rice with 3-4 oz. of protein and steamed or baked veggies.
After-dinner snack: an apple with some almond butter or a protein shake

*Anytime you workout, eat something EASILY DIGESTIBLE right away- like a (hard-boiled) egg and some fruit or a protein shake.

2. STAY AWAY FROM REFINED SUGAR AND ANYTHING WHITE (bread, rice, pasta.) Instead of oatmeal packets, eat regular steel-cut or Irish Quick-Cooking oatmeal- the only ingredient in your oatmeal should be OATS. Most foods that are processed have sugar (in some form) in them and companies disguise the ingredient "sugar" by calling it all kinds of different things: corn syrup, sucrose, maltose, glucose, dextrose, maltodextrin, brown sugar, turbinado sugar, sucrose (there are more than 100 different sucrose substances), high-fructose corn syrup, maltitol, sorbitol, and mannitol. Anything ending in "-itol" and "-ose" means SUGAR! I was appalled to learn that the government subsidizes corn and there was so much corn produced that farmers didn't know what to do with, so they "invented" corn syrup!! And now it's in everything!

If you really want to NOT have that afternoon "crash" at work, don't eat refined sugar!! (Natural sugars are ok, like the sugars in raw fruits, stevia and agave.) Your body comes down from your lunchtime sugar high and that is what causes the crash. Try strictly eating foods with low a Glycemic Index: http://www.glycemicindex.com/ Some people are more sensitive to GI than others.

As an alternative to pasta, a super fabulous product I have found is Shirataki noodles (I call them miracle noodles!): http://www.tofushirataki.com/
Look at this unbelievable Nutritional Info:
Calories: 20
TOTAL FAT - 0.5g
TOTAL CARB. - 3g
Fiber 2g
Sugars 0g
Protein - 1g
NO PRESERVATIVES

3. EAT A LOT OF FIBER. Keeps you regular! Eating fiber along with sugar (only if you must) helps your body process it!

4. DRINK A LOT OF WATER. You should drink AT LEAST half your weight (lbs.) in ounces of water each day. For example, let's say you weigh 150 lbs.- then you should drink MORE THAN 75 ounces of water daily. I believe the rule is half your weight in ounces + 10%, so 90 ounces. This is really hard to do if you don't drink a lot of water already. Hint: it's a lot easier if you exercise....

5. LOWER YOUR CARBS AND EAT MORE LEAN PROTEIN. In general, American eat waaaaay too many carbs. Think about all the regular things we eat and the carbs content: pizza, sandwiches, burgers, pasta... Zoiks! All we eat is carbs!! "Lean" protein is generally fish or chicken. A good rule to remember is, the less legs, the better- so fish, chicken, beef/pork, etc.....

6. CONQUER CRAVINGS, EAT MORE LEAN PROTEIN. This is a great site for eating good things instead: http://www.naturopathyworks.com/pages/cravings.php
I find that the days when I crave sweets are the days when I don't eat enough protein. And amazingly enough, once you ween yourself from sugar, you will find yourself NOT craving it! Not surprisingly, when I do eat sugar, I want more....

7. EAT MORE NATURAL FOODS- READ LABELS!! Processed food= bad! Generally, the fewer ingredients, the better. Apples:apples! If there's anything you can't pronounce or don't recognize on a label, it's probably bad for you in some way.

8. BALANCE CARBS, PROTEIN, FAT. 40% Carbs, 30% Protein, 30% Fat. Yes, it is ok to eat fat! (And, usually products that are "fat free" or "low fat" have a LOT of sugar in them.) This does NOT mean that it is ok to eat french fries and ice cream everyday. (Refer to the Shirataki noodles nutritional info above.... MIRACLE NOODLES!!)

9. DON'T DEPRIVE YOURSELF. If you like pizza and ice cream, schedule a "cheat meal" once a week. I don't believe you should go without the things you love to eat, but don't be surprised if you follow these tips and crave all the "bad" things less and less!

10. TAKE A MULTI-VITAMIN. They can't give you perfect health, but they give you most of the vitamins and minerals that you need regardless of whether you're eating right or not. I like SuperNutrition's "Simply One Women One-per-Day" -no fillers and vegetarian. My beloved mother recommends Reliv.... (She would LOVE to talk to you about it if you want to contact me.)

This may all seem overwhelming, and it is. But we as Americans have gotten so far off track of what we SHOULD be eating that we don't even know what's what anymore. I will tell you that it took me about three years to get to this point where everything came together, makes sense and WORKS! I can't tell you how terrific I FEEL... EVERYday. I 'm not tired at work; I have so much energy and I WANT TO workout! Unbelievable!

9 minutes, 21 seconds

2007-06-08T09:15:00.000-07:00

SUCK!!! This time we ran the mile on a FLAT track as opposed to hills. I am so disappointed! BUT- I didn't even walk at ALL. I suppose that's the part I'm most proud of.

I was actually pretty bored running the same damn circle four times, around and around in a circle. That's it! Yes, THAT'S why my time sucked!

Thanks to The Weather Machines and the "Run Lola Run" soundtrack. I don't know how I ever did this without my iPod.

9 minutes, 43 seconds

2007-05-25T11:11:00.000-07:00

9 minutes, 43 seconds. That was my mile time this morning. For all you runners it really sucks, but for me it is awesome. My time 3 weeks ago was 11 minutes, 04 seconds. For anyone who is already on vacation, that's 1 minute and 21 seconds faster.

I actually didn't sleep much at all last night- I think I was so nervous or stressed out about running today. But I finished! And I barely walked at all! (I guess that means I am REALLY slow....)

I signed up for the next bootcamp which begins on June 4th at which time I will run it again, twice. And I will report back.

I am still awaiting any running tips for dummies.... most importantly how to prevent or eliminate sideaches. Or what the hell I am supposed to do in general relative to breathing, pacing or anything relevant. I am clueless.

I would like to thank Outkast, Pinback and Jay-Z for getting me through my mile!

Not-so-Soggy-Portland

2007-05-23T17:16:00.000-07:00

I am attempting to break the world of considering Portland to be so damn rainy. I always say, "It rains about as much here as it SNOWS in the midwest." The following are the results of a study conducted San Francisco-based WeatherBill, Inc. The study ranked 195 cities in the contiguous 48 states by the amount of rainfall they received annually over a 30-year period.

The 10 rainiest cities in the U.S. by amount of annual rainfall include:

Mobile, Ala.: 67 inches average annual rainfall; 59 average annual rainy days
Pensacola, Fla.: 65 inches average annual rainfall; 56 average annual rainy days
New Orleans, La.: 64 inches average annual rainfall; 59 average annual rainy days
West Palm Beach, Fla.: 63 inches average annual rainfall; 58 average annual rainy days
Lafayette, La.: 62 inches average annual rainfall; 55 average annual rainy days
Baton Rouge, La.: 62 inches average annual rainfall; 56 average annual rainy days
Miami, Fla.: 62 inches average annual rainfall; 57 average annual rainy days
Port Arthur, Texas: 61 inches average annual rainfall; 51 average annual rainy days
Tallahassee, Fla.: 61 inches average annual rainfall; 56 average annual rainy days
Lake Charles, La.: 58 inches average annual rainfall; 50 average annual rainy days

PS- The Pacific Northwest's first location ranks #24- Olympia, Washington. So there! Come and visit already! It was sunny and 77 degrees today....

The Longest Mile

2007-05-04T14:37:00.000-07:00

So, I ran a timed mile this morning. Now I remember WHY I haven't done it for 15 years. I was forced to do it in my junior high school gym class and that was the last time. I am racking my brain to remember what my time was back then...

Some people are runners. They have "practiced" all their life, they know how to breathe & how to pace themsleves, they were in track in high school, they run occaisional marathons. Those people have fit lungs and DON'T have big boobs.

And some people are NOT runners. Like me. I hate running. I had a sideache halfway through and I thought I was going to throw up when I was done. Oh joy! I am used to sprinting, like you do in soccer and softball. Running at the same pace for more than 30 seconds is just not my cup o' tea. I think I will have nightmares about running tonight.

I suppose you are wondering what my time was. I am embarassed to say that it was 11m04s. In my defense, the first quarter-mile was UPHILL, ok? And the entire course was not flat. I walked probably a quarter-mile of it.

I guess I consider myself a fairly fit person, which is why I am so disappointed in myself. I go to the gym regularly and I eat healthy, for the most part. Apparently I am not as fit as I thought I was. Oh well, more reason to celebrate Cinco de Mayo tomorrow.

The only reason I am remotely proud of even doing it is because I actually FINISHED (I debated walking the entire thing) and because I get to test myself again in 3 more weeks. Hopefully I will have improved. (I hope there's a holiday to celebrate in three weeks in case I don't improve.) I'll let you know how I do. In the meantime, if anyone has any tips for "beginners," please pass them on. Muchas gracias y feliz Cinco de Mayo!

NYC/Waste Follow-Up

2007-04-11T16:23:00.000-07:00

Follow-up to blog entry: "Can You Believe It?" posted on Monday, December 18th, 2007 (no, I am not LOOKING for follow-ups!):

Greenhouse Gas Study Says 1 Pct From NYC
Apr 11, 9:27 AM (ET)

By SARA KUGLER
NEW YORK (AP) - New York City produces nearly 1 percent of the nation's greenhouse gas emissions - an amount that puts it on par with Ireland or Portugal - according to a city study. The study, released Tuesday, was ordered by Mayor Michael Bloomberg to assess the city's progress in reducing its greenhouse gas emissions by 30 percent by 2030. It was conducted by the mayor's Office of Long-term Planning and Sustainability. "You have to have a real baseline or we're just talking past each other as to what works and what doesn't work - we won't ever know whether we really made a difference," Bloomberg said. The study found that the buildings, subways, buses, cars and decomposition of waste in America's most populous city produced a net emission of 58.3 million metric tons of greenhouse gases in 2005. The report said the city's emissions "are currently as much as those of Ireland or Portugal."

The U.S. total was 7.26 billion metric tons for that year. Greenhouse gases, including carbon dioxide, methane and other gases, essentially trap energy from the sun, which warms the Earth's surface and lower atmosphere. Many scientists believe human activity that increases those gases is contributing to global warming. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, a United Nations network of 2,000 scientists, warned last week of possible catastrophic risks such as floods, disease, food shortages, species extinction and human suffering throughout the world. The city has 2.7 percent of the country's population - 8.2 million of 300 million - and the average New York City resident contributes less than a third of the emissions generated by a typical American. This is largely due to the popularity of the city's mass transit system, which cuts down on car emissions, officials said. The operation of the city's hundreds of thousands of buildings - which consume electricity, natural gas, fuel oil and steam - contribute 79 percent of the city's emissions total. The study found that the city's focus on environmentally friendly initiatives - including alternative fuel vehicles, energy efficient traffic lights and green buildings - appears to have helped stabilize emissions rates in recent years. "Each one of these things really does make a difference, and they add up," Bloomberg said. Still, emissions were found to have increased by more than 8 percent between 1995 and 2005, the study found.

The Universe in Tune

2007-04-09T16:09:00.000-07:00

Does this ever happen to you? You are driving along one day, KINDA listening to the radio and you hear a familiar tune in between radio segments.... a VERY familiar tune- the tune that is in your CD player? I mean, not just the CD or the artist- THE EXACT SONG. This happened to me yesterday. I got so freaked out that I kept switching between the CD and the radio until the musical segment was over on the radio. I find that this type of thing happens to me fairly often. I don't know what it means, if anything, but I would like to think the universe is balanced or that I am some sort of universal trend-setter or something. That may be a bit far fetched I guess, but fun to ponder nonetheless.

Other times it has been something like: every car I would see had the right brake light out. Or when I mention a scene in or an old movie to someone and then the entire next week I hear it mentioned in numerous conversations (direct or adjacent conversations) or I hear about it on the radio or see something about it on the internet.... weird.

"The Devil Came on Horseback" Follow-Up

2007-04-09T15:54:00.000-07:00

As a follow-up to my visit to the film exhibit at the Judisches Museum in Berlin (blog entry: Berlin, Wednesday" posted on Friday, March 23, 2007).... this was on National Public Radio today:

http://www.theworld.org/?q=node/9306

"Brian Steidle is former US Marine who was hired by the African Union to document the violence in Sudan's Darfur region. He tells anchor Marco Werman that his job amounted to documenting an ongoing genocide. Steidle recounts that experience and explains why he thinks Americans should care about Darfur."

Europe 2007 Photos Have Been Posted

2007-04-08T16:25:00.000-07:00

Please take a look when you get a chance. My trip began on Saturday, March 17th and I have posted them to the relevant blog entries.

I took 548 photos, so if you want to see them all, we'll have to get together!

Death and Jealousy

2007-04-06T11:35:00.000-07:00

While I was away, a friend of mine's grandfather passed away. I saw her this week at a group dinner outing and gave her my most sincere but restrained sympathy as this was not something I wanted to do in public. I knew what it was like for someone to do that just after my dad had passed away- I feared she would break down crying in front of everyone, and I also knew how uncomfortable that was for me. But I knew that I needed to say something as this was the first I had seen her since it had happened. It took me the entire length of the dinner/conversation to gather the courage, but I finally made my way over to her....

I told her that I had heard about her grandfather and I asked her how she was doing. She said "fine" which seems to be the standard reply, even if that's NOT how someone actually IS doing. So I waited for her to go on, dreading any tears or uncomfortablility that may be brewing... but she was surprisingly at peace. She said that the whole family had made it back home for his last week of life and it was such a positive kind of celebration. She even smiled a couple of times recalling the story. She said that he was ready to go, that he had nothing else that he wanted to "do"- he had lived his life. Although I was so happy to hear this, so happy to hear that my friend was at peace with and accepted a loved one's passing, I later realized that I was so jealous. First, because that she got to SEE her grandfather before he died, to say goodbye and tell him that she loved him, hug him one more time, hear his voice. Secondly, that she and her entire family, including her grandfather, were so at peace with his passing.

I wish I could have had that.

Be Where You Are!

2007-04-03T15:05:00.000-07:00

On my trip I was asked more than once, "What do you miss about home?" I thought about it for a bit and realized that I really don't think about home when I am on vacation, thankfully. I don't even think that it is a conscious thing for me to do- I just immerse myself in where I am as much as possible.

I was in touch with a few people from home by e-mail and cell phone/text messages and I definitely missed them while I was gone, but I tried to really live in the place and the moment that I was physically- to LISTEN to the city and the languages around me, to taste the local foods and drinks, to focus on the people I was with and the conversations that I was having and NOT to think about what I was going back to, what was going on at home or even what I was going to do when I got back. I enjoyed not hearing about American politics.

I mean, now that I am back, it is good to be able to go to Trader Joe's to get my (food) staples and to be able to drive myself wherever I'd like to go but I really didn't think about those things while I was there. (I am very grateful that my diet is back to being balanced though!) I don't even like to like to listen to my iPod in places abroad unless there is something unnecessarily annoying. (I listened to it ONCE on a train when some punk-ass kid was blaring his horrible music in the seat behind me.) I didn't even charge it while I was away.

I don't think that I was trying to avoid any difficult feelings or situations, I just hope that I was taking advantage of being away from the "everydayness" of my life. (Refer to quote at right. And blog title!)

Now, if I could just do the same thing on the weekends and not dread Mondays....

Last day in Europe

2007-03-31T08:56:00.000-07:00

Well, today was it. My last day. Luckily, I have seen pretty much everything I wanted to see in Amsterdam except for the Heineken Experience, which I did today. So I got to take it easy and relax. It was sunny and warm here again! I went to a vegetarian restaurant for lunch, then to the Noordermarkt. Norbert called me so we met for coffee and dessert and then went to the Heineken Experience to meet Mike and Machado. It was kinda cool- its basically a museum of the history of Heineken beer complete with how they brew it- except it was more interactive than a regular museum. I can tell that they tried really hard to make it a fun place to be.

Me + Mike at Heiney

Norbert and I at Heiney

With your 10 Euro admission, you get three beers and a free gift. (Norbert thought that was bargain.) I am convinced that they pick a rowdy bunch of guys at the beginning of the day and just keep giving them free beer until closing- It helps the mood of the two bars within the tour and it gets everyone drinking.... they were yelling and singing at the top of their lungs.

Mike, Machado and I are meeting Norbert for tapas around 9 (hopefully Jocham as well) and we will celebrate the end of our Europe 2007 trip.... I will miss Amsterdam the most....

Keukenhoff and my Return to Amsterdam

2007-03-30T09:15:00.000-07:00

Yesterday I spilt from Mike + Machado to go to Keukenhoff, Holland. It's where they grow a bunch of tulips and have a huge garden complex. Oh, how I wish I could post photos! It wasn't sunny and it was a pain in the arse to get to but it was worth it- nearly everything is blooming!

Luckily, Mike and Machado had cold Heineken waiting for me when I got to the hotel last night. It is a real craphole. We thought it would be a great idea to be in the center of town, which happens to be the red light district. Actually, the online description said "on the edge of" the red light district. The photos on line were nice, I swear!!! Anyway, the safe is broken, its a tiny room and the shower area has no door. (Not so great for privacy when I am staying with two guys.) The free breakfast was white bread, meat, hard-boiled eggs, cheese and corn flakes. And you know how I hate corn flakes! The coffee was even horrible. I have not had a bad cup of coffee on my trip until this morning.

Our Amsterdam Hotel window. That window to the right of the street is a "working" window.

Gerrit Reitveld

Coffee at Cafe Walem

Today, we walked to two Gerrit Reitveld spaces: Cafe Walem and M Cafe. Gerrit is a famous designer from the De Stijl movement... Sadly, neither space was remarkable. Both appeared to have been remodeled since Gerrit was there. The M Cafe was fun though because it was in the sixth floor of the Metz Department store and I had a great view of Keizergracht canal with the Rijksmuseum in the background. M+M went to that museum while I went back to Albert Cuypmarkt, hoping to find a dress or two for the 23 weddings I get to go to this summer. We met back at Museumplein and I had another waffle sundae. MMMMMM.

Prostitute Information Center
I visited Prostitute Information Center. Strangely, it is next to a historic cathedral in the red light district. (There are couple of windows just across from the church.) I wanted to go here to try to dispel any myths about prostitution.... I bought some literature. I'll fill you in....

We picked up a mini-Heine(ken) keg on the way home... I gotta get back before Machado drinks it all...

Leiden, Liege and Maastricht

2007-03-29T01:15:00.001-07:00

Leiden
Wow, it's been a few days! I made it to Leiden on Tuesday night. It was so great to see Joanna. She was one of the first people I met when I was in Guatemala. She is doing so well and her town and apartment are so quaint. I had low expectations of Leiden- when we were in Guatemala, she hadn't started her job there and wasn't excited about the town at all, but when I got there I loved it. The train ride to Leiden was also very scenic- lots and lots of windmills, daffodils and tulips. It's springtime in Holland!! I really wish I could have spent more time in Leiden. I think it's always healthy to experience the smaller, less touristy towns as well.

Me + Joanna in Leiden. (Notice the windmill in the background....)

Adorable Leiden!

Leiden at dusk

The Wednesday Market in Leiden

Liege, Belgium
Joanna and I had a great visit. I went with her to the train station the next morning, Wednesday, and she went to Switzerland and I went to Liege, Belgium. I know now why nobody talks highly of Belgium. I was to meet Mike and Machado at the Liege cathedral at 3pm. (Mike lost his cell phone, otherwise this would have been a lot easier...)

So, I get to Liege and it's not really a tourist town. It was kinda scenic- a hilltown with lots of old, old, mostly underpreserved buildings but there are no tourist offices, maps or English speakers (kinda fun to practice my French that I haven't practiced for 8 years!) To make a long story short: what I got from my broken French conversation was that I was to get on the #4 bus to the city center. So I did. But I never found the city center. So I just got off randomly after my intuition said that something was wrong. I walked in whatever direction seemed "right." Magically, after a few blocks I saw a sign pointing to the city center. So I followed it and found one of the streets that Mike had said we were to meet on. By this time it was 2:55 and I had no idea that I was even going in the right direction... so I just hauled ass down the narrow Belgian street, again in what I thought was the "right" direction... eventually I came to a square, at the corner of Rue de Cathedral and Place de Cathedral. It was 3:03pm and I was sure Mike and Machado weren't going to be there. But they were. I still cannot believe that we all made it. Neither can they.

We all agreed that Liege was not a place we wanted to stay for long, so we took off for Maastricht, Holland. Navigating in their little rental car- Citroen C2 (smaller than a VW Beetle, especially with all of our stuff)- was just about as scientific as my process of finding them in Liege: "Oh, that looks like the right way." "Maybe we should turn here." "I think we are going in the right direction."

I don't know how we got to Maastricht, let alone OUT of Liege, but we did.

Maastricht, Holland
Downtown Maastricht was MUCH better than Liege. We found a really adorable hotel (WITH A BALCONY- ALWAYS a plus!) on the main square. The weather was gorgeous and everyone in the entire town was outside- riding their bikes, sitting at the outdoor cafes or walking around. We drank and ate at our hotel's outdoor dining area for hours- until the sun went down and it got cooler (and when the table of young girls left behind us....)

Nope, he's actually mexican.

Mike & I in Maastricht

Hotel de la Bourse

Balcony de la Bourse

Monday in Amsterdam

2007-03-27T07:43:00.000-07:00

Rijksmuseum, VanGogh Museum, Museumplein.

I had the best warm waffle with ice cream, chocolate sauce and cherries. Mmmmmm. I think I had a dream about it last night. Later, Norbert and I went out to dinner near Albert Cuypmarkt, then we went to a bar with LOTS of different beers- Cafe Gollem. Yum. I had a Foreffe Blond. Blonds are more fun ya know?

I turned in my rental bike today and then took a canal tour boot, I mean BOAT. I am lucky that it is sunny and warmer now. People are outside everywhere- on the docks, on restaurant patios, standing in the sun on street corners. I had to get a Netherlands sim card for my phone today, so if you call or text me my new number until I leave Amsterdam is: (011) 31 6 28 27 5064, or in Holland: 06 28 27 5064.

I'm at the train station now, I am going to Lieden to visit my friend Joanna, who I met in Guatemala. She leaves for a ski trip tomorrow morning. I'm debating a day trip to Belgium from there... what do you think?

Amsterdam with Jocham

2007-03-26T00:17:00.000-07:00

Jocham and I got a late start yesterday. We made it to brunch at Winkel. Then we went to rent me a bike! Apparently, my bike is not a tourist bike but a public transportation bike. This doesn't make me feel like any less of a tourist, unfortunately.

Stedelijk Museum
Just down the street is the temporary location for the Stedelijk Museum, which Jocham insisted that we see. His company, dutchtub (http://www.dutchtub.nl/), designed a rooftop garden with 2 tubs at the top of the building.

There were two exhibits- the building itself is nothing to brag about. One exhibit was called "Mapping the City" and the other was "Lights and Drawings." Upstairs, we went to a bar/cafe called "11" and had a drink and planned out our last portion of the day.

We decided to go to Het Schip Housing Estate. The style is called The Amsterdam School. It was quite the train wreck of a building complex, but fun to see nonetheless. I think the architects of this movement just wanted to be as weird as they could possibly be.

We then went to meet my friend Norbert, who I met in Guatemala. All I have to say is that I'm glad Amsterdam is flat because it was a 20 minute bike ride.

Oh wait! Time for some HODOGS.

Leaving Germany and Arriving in Amsterdam

2007-03-25T01:40:00.000-07:00

Leaving Germany
...not much to see in Rostock. Dave said that the British used Rostock as a test city for carpet bombs. We did make it to Warnemunde on the Baltic Sea though. Dammit it was cold.

Brrrrr dude. Me at the Baltic Sea.

Lise, Dave and I at the beach. Not exactly tropical.

I saw the remaining wall around the city and a couple of churches & historic neighborhoods. Cafe Paula was the best!

And blah, blah, blah the German train system that I thought was so great really is not. It took me 12 hours to get from Rostock to Amsterdam yesterday. The trip should have taken 8 hours. Bremen- not Rostock- is the white trash capital of Germany.

Amsterdam
So I made it to Amsterdam. As soon as the train arrived at the station, I lost cell phone coverage. Not cool since I was supposed to call Jocham (pronounced YO-kum) when I arrived- he was meeting me there. Fabulous. I don't know how he found me, but he did. Then I rode, with my backpack, on the back rack of his bike to his house. We had a beer there and then we left to meet his friends Chrystal and Lisette at Cafe Tabac- a dainty little bar/restaurant. Again, I rode on the back of Jocham's bike. On cobblestone streets. And speed bumps. With no padding for my butt.

We went to a couple of other bars and then decided to brave the red light district. The district on a Saturday night felt a bit like Lundi Gras in New Orleans- lots of large groups of drunk men with women on the mind. We found a table at a bar across a canal from a set of three windows and we timed "visits": 7 minutes, 10 minutes, 8 minutes. Jocham says that the prostitutes don't take less than 50€. They start at 80€ and negotiate from there... Crazy.

I was a bit disappointed though- I expected the women to at least be dancing or moving or something, but they all just stood there. It was worse than a bad strip club. Some of them were just sitting there smoking. Most of them had bikini-type attire- Nothing was showing. I think if I was a man, this would not be very exciting to me.

This is Jocham and I in the red light district around 3 am:

Berlin, Wednesday

2007-03-23T02:54:00.000-07:00

This is what I wrote in my paper journal on the train from Berlin to Rostock:

Hallo, my name is Nicole and I will be your EXPRESS tour guide for Berlin.

Although I woke up with a splitting headache yesterday, I knew it was my only day in Berlin and I had a LOT to see. So I took a bunch of pills and marched on. It was pouring rain and very cold.

I took bus 109 to the zoo and then bus 100 to Siegessäute (the victory tower), walked around for a bit, saw the Bismarck monument and some other (probably significant) statues and monuments. I walked down Staße des Juni to teh Brandenburg Gate and the Reichstag. Although these places are important, they were not the main reason why I came to Berlin, so I did not spend much time at them (I did not go inside the Reichstag (the line was around the corner!) Instead, I decided to invest in some mittens and warm up at the cafe across the street.

The Holocaust Memorial
The Holocaust Memorial WAS one of the main reason for my stay in Berlin- and it was totally worth it. I spent probably 45 minutes taking photos outside in the rain and cold. The memorial is a series of concrete "boxes" (about the size of a coffin) on a grid with narrow (maybe 2'-0" or 2'-6" wide) cobblestone walkways in between. No names, no faces, no plaques. Just a quiet space to comtemplate. If I had a dream career, I would design places like these- memorials or public places with out the history- just a place that represents something- a place to think about the event or location that is important there. I get so bored with historical museums and places with plaques with long histories and statues of famous people.

The holocaust museum below was also laid out on the same grid, but it was below ground, at the northeast corner of the memorial. I was pleasantly surprised. There was a kinda-wordy history and all, but it was more interesting to me maybe because the text wasn't mounted on the wall. Part of the exhibit had the history on panels on the floor and on coffin-size blocks that came out of the ceiling and didn't touch the floor. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Memorial_to_the_Murdered_Jews_of_Europe

Hitler's Bunker
Just around the corner from the memorial was the location of Hitler's bunker. It was really nothing more that a big sign with some text and a floor plan. I'm not even sure that the bunker was still there or if it had been demolished.

Potsdamer Platz
This is where I got very lost. I think I was distracted by all the modern architecture there like the Sony Center. After I found my bearings, I stopped for a late lunch at the "Quizno's" of Berlin- "Der Rächer Feihl." My panino, kaffee and water was 5,85€.

Berlin Wall, Gestapo Headquaters and "Topography of Terror"
It is so crazy to stand a place as historically significant as these and imagine all that happened there. Even the Gestapo headquarters was demolished except for parts of the foundation, but to know what happened in that building when it stood is appalling. Trials, soldiers quarters, prisoner cells were all housed at this location. And I was there. Behind the Wall was also an exhibit called "Topography of Terror" which was just more history, old photos and artifacts.

The Wall

Checkpoint Charlie
Check! A little building in the middle of traffic with some sandbags and a sign that warns that you are leaving the American sector.

Jüdisches Museum
I was outside this Daniel Libeskind building for a good while as well- until my hands wouldn't move anymore to take photos. It was 7€ to get into both exhibits and both buildings- one old building and one new. The permanent exhibit was the Jewish history. It was one of the most effective historic exhibits I have ever experienced. What made it so effective was how interactive it was. There were moving panels, phones to pick up and listen to, places to sit and play with objects that taught you about Jewish history.

http://www.juedisches-museum-berlin.de/site/EN/homepage.php?meta=TRUE

One of many interactive displays at Jüdisches Museum

How fun is this museum?

More fun....

My favorite part of the permanent exhibit was called "Ja Oder Nein." It was a little station with a computer screen that asked a question like, "Do you think that in your circle of friends anyone holds prejudices against Jews?" And you are supposed to push either the red button or the green. After you make your selection, the screen gives you a percentage of the people who voted yes and no and how many had voted.

From the entrance plaque at "Shalechet":
Menashe Kadishman's installation "Shalechet" is first a memorial to the Holocaust. But he reaches beyond this and dedicates it to all innocent victims violence of war. He requests that his vistors walk upon the work. The title "Fallen Leaves" raises suggestions of both negative predestination and of hope for new life in the coming spring."

Me on the exhibit "Shalechet"

The funny thing is- I didn't really go to the museum for the exhibit- I went to see the building. Usually, the exhibits themselves aren't part of the design- they are independent of the exterior of the building and are usually the regular facts and photos and artifacts. There were all of those things, but this type of learning is so much more effective than standing around reading plaques all day!

The temporary exhibit was about Darfur. It was a slideshow along with drawings from children survivors of Darfur. Each drawing had a description from the child- most were drawings of people with guns or knives or a picture of their brother or sister or mother or father being murdered. The most powerful part of the exhibit was the movie, "Hell Came on Horseback," which I don't think translates correctly, but It was the documentary of a photographer who was a former Marine who spent 6 months in Darfur taking photos of what would later be declared genocide.

I arrived a bit late to the film, but it was amazing. At one point, the narrator/photgrapher Brian, was in a helicopter with his crew and they came across the Janjaweed in action burning down a village. When they saw the helicopter, the Janjaweed fled by Jeep. They showed 2 or 3 vehicles full of men with guns driving away from the village. He said something to the effect of: I could have ended it all. Right there, right then. If I had been behind the scope of a gun instead of a camera, this would all change right NOW....But I wasn't behind a gun.

It was very powerful. I'm not sure what the status of this movie is, but you should try to see it and do anything you can to help the people in Darfur.

The Taxi Ride
When I came out of the movie, it was snowing. And it was after 9pm. I was so exhausted that I asked the museum to call me a cab. It was 14,20€ to get back to my hotel, but it was worth every penny. All taxis in Berlin are Mercedes and this one was a newer one- leather seats and everything. Riding in that car after more than 12 hours of walking and sightseeing made my day. Not to mention how handsome the cab driver was... ("cabbies" are not like the cabbies in the US) He could have stepped right out of a Marc Jacobs ad- wool peacoat and all. Too bad I said "Si" instead of "Ja" when he confirmed my destination....

Berlin
Overall, I loved Berlin. It was so clean, the transportation was very efficient and the architecture was amazing. One day is defintiely not enough though. I will have to return I guess.

Rostock

2007-03-22T07:00:00.000-07:00

I arrived in Rostock (in northern Germany) today. My friend Dave (from college) and his girlfriend, Lise, live here. Dave works for the Max Planck Institute. So far, the weather in Germany leaves a lot to be desired- In Berlin, it rained much of the day yesterday, snowed last night and Rostock is rainy and windy. Fabulous! I feel right at home.

Dave picked me up from the train station just after lunchtime and we took my backpack back to their place and Dave pointed me in the direction of the internet cafe while he went to a meeting at work. He thinks he will be able to take tomorrow afternoon off from work, hopefully we will get to go to the coast here in Germany!

Dave says that Rostock used to be a main port for Europe, but in 1990 everything shut down. Now the unemployment here is 21%! It is an adorable little town, a lot different from the bustle of Berlin. I can tell that this place is waaaay less visited than the previous stops on my trip- not many people speak english and prices are much cheaper- 1,80 Euros for one hour of internet.... IF you can find one of the two internet facilities that is.

Yesterday I gave myself the uber-express tour of Berlin... In the morning I will write more about Berlin and my day yesterday- I have so much to write! check back!!

Sunday Night and More Sightseeing

2007-03-19T03:25:00.000-07:00

Last night was Molly's last night here in Czech Republic. She returned to Spain this morning. She and Jen met my roommates and I outside of our hostel and we went to a fabulous Czech restaurant for dinner called Kolkovna. I suggested that someone at our table get the (real Czech) goulash- I was the only person who had even heard of it before- my mom used to make the American version when I was little (and still ate meat) and I wanted to know if the real thing was as good as I remember my mom's to be. Three people at the table ended up ordering it and they all loved it. Against my better dietary judgement, ordered the fried cheese (a Czech specialty) which came with boiled potatoes & parsley. It was delicious but unfortunately my digestive system didn't like it as much as my taste buds did. After dinner, we went to a bar called El Mojito, down the street from our hostel. We planned to have just one drink, but we ended up closing the bar down.

Today, Monday
This morning I woke up early and went to the post office and the local grocery store. After getting lost for the millionth time, I finally found the Jewish Quarter (aka Jewish Ghetto). For 290Kc (about $15 US), your admission gets you into six of the sites in the quarter: The Maisel Synagogue, The Spanish Synagogue, The Pinkas Synagogue, The Old Jewish Cemetery, The Klaus Synagogue and the Ceremonial Hall. During the holocaust, most of Prague's Jews were killed but Hitler ordered the synagogues, town hall and cemetery of Prague to be preserved to make a "museum of an extinct race."

The most moving part of the complex was the cemetery, known in Jewish as "beit hayyim" or "house of life." For a relatively small cemetery (maybe 3000 square feet??) there are believed to be 100,000 Jews buried here- one on top of another, perhaps 6 layers deep. Shocking. The headstones were literally inches apart if not right next to each other and some were leaning over onto each other.

Jewish Cemetery

I also enjoyed the Pinkas Synagogue (a kind of Jewish version of the Vietnam memorial in Washington D.C.) with names of each person who perished in the holocaust listed on every wall, with their birthday and the last date they were known to be alive. The names are arranged by location, but these were not all of the names...

Prague Castle
I walked over the famous Charles Bridge on my way to the Prague Castle, which is really a complex of schmancy buildings. The Cathedral sv Vita is amazing. There is a stained glass window by Alfonse Mucha and all kinds of other stained glass, statues and tombs. The best part was the 287-stair climb to the top of the south bell tower. I can't believe how many photos I took! There were 360 degrees of amazing views of Prague. It was soooo cold though- I had to stop for a hot chocolate at a super over-priced (but warm) cafe next to the cathedral.

Arch detail at a gate near the castle

Since I have been on this trip, I have been struggling with the idea of traveling in peak tourist seasons in order to be in better weather in my travels. I LIKE traveling when there aren't as many tourists- usually everything is cheaper and easier to navigate, but this cold is getting to be too much for me. Norway in December (of 2005) was the first example. I could do (more) sketches in warmer weather!

From the top of the Bell Tower

At Prague Castle

Czech me out in Prague

2007-03-18T11:04:00.000-07:00

I may be museumed out already. I like art and all, I am just not a huge fan of history and I know exactly what types of art and exhibits I like. My roommate Dave and I went to the Communist Museum and the Mucha Museum. The Communist Museum wasn't much to speak of, although the movie was very educational- it really got me interested in the Velvet Revolution and communism. Phrases like, "You can't wash your underwear, but you can get your brain washed" along with great reused propaganda and graphic design made the postcards the best part of the museum.

The Mucha Museum was really great though. Although the museum has poor lighting, it was very intimate (I think museums are generally too big) and very personal. Each lithograph had a small description of the piece and there was a movie that gave a brief history of the artist. If you don't recognize the name Alfonse Mucha, please go here to see his work. I'm sure something will look familiar: http://www.muchafoundation.org/mucha/page.php?page=front

Mucha is now one of my favorite artists. I appreciated his work before, but seeing his history and his prints up close made me appreciate his work even more. If you can find it, look up the painting "Star" (aka "Winter Night" or "Siberia")- it is a huge painting and uses so much symbolism... as does most if not all of his other works. I could write so much about his use of color and symbolism and what his influences were... but alas, I must go meet some people for dinner. To be continued...

The Astronomical Clock

Something famous in Prague....

Dobryden

2007-03-17T08:04:00.000-07:00

Greetings from Prague, Czech Republic! So far I am a bit disoriented- I am a bit tired from flying and it's overcast here and I haven't walked around much yet... but I want to blog about my flights before I get too bogged down in sightseeing. The following was written in my paper journal on the flights:

PDX- Frankfurt, Germany
I love Lufthansa airlines. My first meal just now included cheese tortellini over steamed vegetables (good ones- carrots, zucchini, celery) with marinara sauce, Israeli-like salad (parsley, cucumbers, onions, cherry tomatoes, dressing and cheese-I think it was Pecorino but that wouldn't really make sense with an Israeli salad), a fruit cup (cantaloupe, honeydew, strawberries), a wheat roll, a "pat" of "Promise" spread, and 3/4 oz. of colby cheese. I love colby cheese! Not only was my dinner bordering gourmet by airline standards, I got served first because of my vegetarian "restrictions."

Post dinner
On top of the fabulous, healthy food, they keep the drinks comin'. They came through with bev service twice before serving dinner (once was with a pretzel "Goldfisch" snack). once during and then once at the end of dinner asking "Red or white wine?" and then, "Coffee or tea?" And finally, "Bailey's or cognac?" Sweeeeet. (Mind you, this is all free on international flights.) All of it almost made up for my shit seat in the center section, 2nd from the end, in between two middle-aged women who were both wearing too much perfume and whose personal "bubbles" are smaller than mine. No window OR aisle seat. Only 6 and a half hours left on this flight.... Did I mention the mini Coca-Cola "Light?" ...and adorable .15 liters. It's pocket size!!

7:30 am, Europe time (11:30 pm PST)
My vegetarian "breakfast" consisted of two mushroom pastries over cooked spinach and a fruit cup (blueberries, honeydew, and peeled oranges and grapefruit), and a white dinner roll & jam. "Promise" was also included. Yum.

Another great thing about Lufthansa is that the flight attendants are nearly all men (in my section anyway.) They are very nice and polite, they speak perfect English, are always smiling and they actually appear to like their jobs.

Did I mention that Lufthansa has down pillows?

Frankfurt International Airport
I have never seen so many Nike products and what appeared to be employees- they were decked out in everything Nike) in one place at the same time since the Nike Employee Store at Christmas time!

Oh, and I saw the famous airbus twice while here- once waiting to board (people were clapping when they saw it) and once while we were taxiing to the runway....

I have decided to review a\every airport I am in from now on, and past ones if they are memorable. Remember, this is for the AIRPORT, not the airline. Template as follows:

Airport Location: Frankfurt, Germany
International: Yes
Airline flown: Lufthansa
Bathrooms: Gross. Tidy but not clean at all. Too small. There were only three sinks and 6 toilet stalls. Garbage can was not within reach of the door. No toilet seat covers provided.
Food: N/A
Circulation/signage: poor
Airport staff/security checkpoints: The jerk at the security gate wouldn't let me through the security checkpoint because it was "too early." He said, "There are no restaurants or duty-free stores over there," as he pointed to the people PAST the checkpoint. I replied that I didn't NEED anything (Lufthansa fed me well and kept me hydrated!)
"No. Come back at 11."
It was 9:30 am, my flight boards at 11:20. Ridiculous!!
The other girl at the checkpoint tried to convince him to let me go... "No."
Maybe the restaurants and shops OUTSIDE the security checkpoint pay him to not let people through "too early."
Services used & rated: Internet kiosks- Connection was super slow and I was scared I had my hotmail password stolen because it took you to an "e-mail log-in" site and then it gave me error messages. Not recommended.
Currency exchange- Female attendant was very nice, spoke English very well, was prompt and polite. Highly recommended if your currency is strong!
Comments: Main concourse smelled of sewer in a couple of different places.
Any building in 2007 withOUT and enclosed smoking area is behind the times. I should not be forced to inhale harmful AIR on my way to the bathroom. And yes, I understand that Europeans smoke a helluva lot more than Americans.
Overall Rating: 2 stars out of 10.

Nicole's Top 8 Travel Tips

2007-03-11T11:44:00.001-07:00

(I couldn't think of 10 good ones....)

1. PACK LIGHT. I pride myself on this and I cannot stress it enough. Nothing is better than being able to grab all of your belongings without slowing everyone else down. Never pack anything that you won't DEFINITELY use while you're there. Don't pack any extras. If you run out of shampoo, it is a great opportunity to check out the local products (even if you can't translate the label)- you can always ask an employee for help. I usually take clothing that I don't really want anymore (especially to developing countries) and leave it there/donate it/throw it away.... this includes socks, undies & shoes! Take as few items of clothing as possible. Washing your shirt in the sink and hanging it to dry in your room is a common thing in most other countries. Shoes take up a LOT of space, so try to limit shoe selections to (at the most) two pairs. Make sure they are versatile- maybe one pair is casual and one pair is a bit dressy. Check the weather and plan accordingly- if it is going to be rainy while you're there, make sure one of your pairs of shoes is waterproof, etc.

2. TRY TO GET ON THE LOCAL TIME BEFORE YOU LEAVE. I find it effective to set my clocks to the time zone a day BEFORE I leave and get on schedule then. That often means staying up all night the night before, sleeping when you get on the plane. You may know how valuable this may be because jetlag can consume an entire day (if not more) when you arrive and if your trip is only 10 days, that's 20% of your trip that gets wasted!! Once you arrive, GET/STAY ON THE LOCAL TIME. Stay up until at least 10pm the first night. If you need to, take a walk if you feel sleepy- Do what you need to do to stay awake. I am lucky because architecture school taught me to have a fubarred sleep schedule (I often went days without sleeping.)

3. BLOG! (or journal) EVERYDAY! And, if you are an artist, SKETCH as often as you can. This is a great way to keep record of your trip. Be sure to write about how you feel about a particular place, what you observe (i.e.- what is different and what is similar to your home, etc.), why you visited that place, who you meet, tell stories about any experience.... write about anything and everything.

4. KNOW BASIC PHRASES IN THE NATIVE LANGUAGE, even if your pronunciation is crap. 1) Hello/Goodbye 2) Please/Thank you 3) " Do you speak English?" And- if you are vegetarian or have special eating habits, it is best to know what items on the menu you can/can't eat before you get there. (Man, this trip is going to be challenging in this respect- I will be in 3, possibly 4 different languages and in one of them, my friends may try to speak Spanish!!)

5. SCAN YOUR PASSPORT, CREDIT CARDS AND OTHER IMPORTANT DOCUMENTS AND E-MAIL THEM TO YOURSELF (and/or photocopy and keep separate from the real items.) I guess this works when you are going places with internet access. I'm not sure if cruises have internet access?? It is also smart to leave a copy here at home with someone you trust as well as a copy of your itinerary including your accommodations.

6. GET TO KNOW THE LOCALS! This is the absolute best way to get to know a country. Finding out how a family spends time with each other and what they value gives great insight. The size of their homes, how they decorate, how they eat meals and how they engage YOU are all things that you can learn a lot from. I always like to have someone I know (or a friend of a friend) in each place I visit. That way, I have a connection that I can trust. Most of these people will offer you anything they have- time, a place to stay, a meal or even to be a kind of personal tour guide.

7. STAY HYDRATED, especially on the flight. This is becoming more difficult to do with the current liquid restrictions on airlines. I used to bring a huge bottle of water with me, but now all I can buy past the security checkpoints is a 33 oz. bottle, which should be finished within 2-3 hours of flight. Do the best you can- every time the flight attendant walks by or offers a drink, GET WATER. And ask for large bottle if they can spare it. The bad thing (I think) about staying hydrated is that it may be best to take an aisle seat. Some people prefer this, but I like the window seats so I can look at the landscapes (if it is light outside) and I can use the wall of the plane for head support while sleeping.... it is annoying when you are sitting in the aisle and the person in the window seat has a small bladder. Also try to avoid alcohol and caffeine prior to and during the flights.

8. VISIT THE LOCAL GROCERY STORE. (And be sure to bring your language dictionary if you plan on buying anything.) You can really grasp how a culture lives by the things that are on the shelves and what people are buying. Think about a foreigner coming to America- they would observe lots of processed, sugary foods. On that note, always try the chocolate!!

Vacate!

2007-03-07T11:38:00.000-08:00

"Who are you going with?"
"Nobody."
"You are going.... ALONE?! Wow. That's gutsy!"

Everyone seems to assume that I am going to Europe WITH someone. I resent that. People travel solo all the time! Sometimes I think it is because they expect me to be married by now or something, like I SHOULD BE taking someone with me. Or is it because I am a woman and somehow I am less safe than a man is? Or is it that somehow men know how to travel BETTER than women? Once again, I am a big girl and I feel confident that I know how to handle myself in unfamiliar places.

The great thing about traveling alone is that it is so much easier to meet people when you don't have a companion. As an example, when I was in Guatemala, all of us were there alone which allowed us to form a bond that we would not otherwise have formed. Strangely, we instantly trusted each other. We traveled and socialized together. We had something in common- we were in the same place.... ALONE.

I admit, I was a bit terrified of Guatemala before I arrived (I actually prepared a will beforehand) and in a couple of instances while there, but I truly believe that what happens to you is 80% how you carry yourself, 10% what to look out for and 10% how you react to a situation. (Funny, since it seems I really only deal well with challenging situations abroad.) I think I am fairly well traveled, so I know what to look out for, I know never to let my guard down and I remind myself that in all my travels around the world, I have never been so scared for my life as when my blonde friend Kristi and I found ourselves being gawked at and harassed in Harlem..... we were whiter than white and we were the only ones.

If it makes anyone feel better, I will only be alone in Europe for the first week, really. The remainder of my trip I will be staying with friends. The very best part of the adventure of traveling is figuring out how a city works, how people communicate (or don't), how local transportation works (or doesn't) and meeting people who are willing to let you into their world so that you can be a part of it for a moment.

When I was in high school, my mom and I came to the west coast to check out a bunch of colleges. We got in a fight in Seattle and we ended up apart from each other for a couple of hours. I know that my mom was mortified (the perfect revenge)- she had not been to many big cities and I know she believed that I was not ok on my own. I was not scared to be a 16-year-old alone in a city. I had been to Seattle before, I knew the area we were in and if needed, I could have found my way back to the hotel. I would like to call this an example of "survival of the fittest," though that may be a stretch.

I don't consider myself all that gutsy, I just know that I want to see the world and experience places and people and foods that are new to me and if I don't do that while I can, I will regret it. You only live once! I recently came across this not-that-relevant quote that I would like to live by:

"It is very good for the character to engage in sports which put your life in danger from time to time. It breeds a saneness in dealing with day-to-day trivialities." -Nevil Shute Norway

Quitting

2007-01-25T09:20:00.000-08:00

My aunt Lori quit smoking on Tuesday. Cold Turkey. She has smoked for as long as I can remember. I believe she told me once that she had her first cigarette when she was 14. I won't disclose her age, but let's just say that she has been smoking for probably about 30 years. That is a LONG time for an addiction like smoking. I received an e-mail from her yesterday afternoon stating the exact date and time, to the minute, that she had enjoyed her last cigarette. She said that she had been eating carrots, celery, mints and chewing on a lot of crushed ice.

Although I don't know exactly what quitting smoking is like, I imagine it to be one of the hardest things to do. It must consume your every thought, all day long, every minute. As a very weak example, think of something that you have everyday that you take for granted, like your cell phone, computer, coffee or your microwave. Then imagine how you use that thing everyday- how many times you use it, how much you rely on it for something, how if you lost it or if it was taken away, how lost you would be. Smoking has got to be 10 times worse than that. It is a physical addiction, not just a mental addiction.

I don't expect you to understand how touching this is, but in all the encouragement I could muster for my aunt by e-mail, she replied that she has been begging my dad for help. Of course, I started bawling when I read that. After all, my dad died of a heart attack and smoking is one of the top causes for heart disease. After he passed away a year and a half ago, I went crazy researching heart attacks and the causes. I called my aunt a couple of times in the following weeks to try to persuade her to quit smoking out of fear that the same thing would happen to her as had happened to my dad. She knew that she needed to quit, but she just wasn't quite convinced. Her brother had just died because of the very thing that she was doing and that just wasn't enough.

Well, apparently this week was the right time for Aunt Lori. I don't know exactly what sparked her motivation to quit on Tuesday, but each person has to be comfortable with their decision, they have to be ready mentally for that drastic change. Sometimes it takes a while to become comfortable with an idea for one to take the first step. And sometimes that takes years. I remember when my mom quit smoking. She had tried a couple of times before but had not succeeded. She quit for good just after my great grandfather passed away, whom she was fairly close to. She just quit. It was not my dying grandfather's wish that she quit- he was not on his deathbed begging her to quit as a method of bargaining against his death. His death just spoke to her and that was that. She never questioned WHY it was, it was just one of those life-changing experiences that made her want to change her habit. I am not saying that a loved on has to die for someone to overcome addiction, it has been my experience that death is a great catalyst for positive change.

When I think of my aunt, I picture her with a cigarette in between her fingers, taking a long, slow, clearly gratifying drag while she listens intently to my words, keeping the smoke in her lungs for as long as she can hold her breath so as to hang onto the effect for as long as possible. It will be shocking to see her without, to not smell the stench of smoke on all of her belongings and on her when we hug or when I visit. It will be so great to have more time with her and for her to have more time for herself and for her family because she won't have to be constantly going outside to smoke.

And what an accomplishment- to be able to say that you QUIT SMOKING, that you conquered something so powerful that it harnessed your mind, your body, your every thought for THIRTY YEARS. I know this is something that smokers will understand a whole lot better than I, but I see it as one of the most noble victories. I KNOW she can do it.

Snow Day

2007-01-16T18:53:00.000-08:00

I did a lot of walking today. Well, more walking than usual. From home I walked to the closest Max stop and then walked from the Max stop to work. (This is really only 10 blocks or so, but mind you it was a whopping 27 degrees outside.) When I repeated the same trip in reverse this afternoon (it was still not above freezing), I made a stop at the coffee shop down the street. Then later this evening I walked from my house to the video store and back. Strangely, I think the warmest trip was the last, which was made AFTER dark. It was the most pleasant walk I have had in a long time.

Today it snowed here in Portland. This may not mean anything to those of you reading in Montana or South Dakota or on the east coast, but snow here means NOBODY leaves their house. It's like there is a highly contagious disease on the sidewalks and streets. Nobody wants to touch it. They look at it like its the bearded lady or an artifact at a museum- they take PICTURES of it like they would take pictures of a buffalo at Yellowstone National Park.

I heard that Portland has only two snowplows, which would explain why nobody knows how to drive in the white fluffy stuff and also why only 10 streets in the entire city seem to be bare enough by the end of the day to see asphalt. From my work window today, I watched one of our two snowplows in action- what a disappointment. I think the plow was down just to make noise because the damn plow was not PLOWING anything. Generally, when a snowplow PLOWS something, that "SOMETHING" flies to the side of the street and off of the plow blade like snow does when you use a snowblower. Ok, sorry Portlanders- you probably don't know what a snowblower is, so let’s just say the purpose of this snowplow was being defeated. Buh-bye tax dollars.

I am not quite comfortable yet with driving my little 2WD car on snow or ice which is why I walked and Maxed it today. (In September I traded my adorable, reliable 4-wheel-drive pickup for a more fuel efficient and practical sedan (see "New Car, New Me" Sept. 2006.)) But more than that, I don't trust OTHER drivers here in snow or ice. (Or sun or rain for that matter. The west coast breeds the WORST drivers ever.) This morning, I saw a woman who was stuck in the middle of a usually busy intersection, spinning out and spinning out in her 4WD SUV that was NOT actually IN 4WD- she had her tire chains on the front tires. Her car was a rear-wheel-drive vehicle. I didn’t know whether to laugh or to feel sorry for the woman.

I quite enjoy the lack of activity that comes with the snow day though. When I walked to the video store just now, it was so quiet, so still- like it is super early on a Sunday morning. The snow is like a blanket that makes the city sleepy. Just a few cars are out, a couple of joggers. No roar of cars or buses. Not even any homeless people screaming at absolutely nothing like they commonly do.

One day last week it barely dusted snow (and I DO mean DUSTED- it looked more like frost and it was totally melted by noon) and the entire Portland school system was closed. Heaven forbid you make your children WALK to school on a few white crystals. Or take public transportation. I find all this "failure to deal with snow" a bit hard to believe since I only know TWO native Oregonians here in Portland. Are there no natives left here or do I just know all the transplants perhaps because I am one myself? Surely most people who moved here came from snowy states, no? That means they all potentially know how to drive in it, right?

I have totally lost my acclimation to cold temperatures. I have become such a wuss that now when its 35 degrees or less, I think the world is surely coming to an end. For the last week or more, the highs have been in the 30s which isn't too common for our little Portland. My toes were numb by the time I got to work this morning. Maybe I am becoming one of "those Portlanders".... if you can't beat 'em, join 'em I guess.

No, I'm NOT Joining the Circus

2007-01-10T16:06:00.000-08:00

It doesn't look very exhilarating, but it was!! Thanks Suzanne!

The Truth

2007-01-08T13:52:00.000-08:00

Just in case anyone forgot: sometimes the truth hurts.

But like my mom says, it also sets you free. I would much rather KNOW the truth and endure the pain than be "protected" or lied to. I despise sugar-coating. (Please take note.)

Nativity Fun

2006-12-26T14:23:00.000-08:00

Who invited THAT guy? We've never seen anything like him....

This should be enough to celebrate the birth of a king!

(he he.)

Can You Believe It?

2006-12-18T15:22:00.000-08:00

New York City (population 8.2 million within an area of 321 square miles) does NOT have a mandatory recycling program.

I admit that I am kinda obsessed with recycling (I alert the media when I find a soda can in the garbage) but a city the size of New York with a "suggested" recycling program is a CRIME!!! Isn't this the city that had problems with WHERE to put their garbage? I remember when a barge was stuck out in the Hudson River because they had no place for disposal. Hmmm.... and THAT was in the 90s.

Ok, so NYC HAS a full recycling program, apparently nobody cares to actually recycle. I cringed when I had to put my water bottle in with the "real" garbage- the garbage that already contained newspapers, many Starbucks cups and other plastic containers and bottles. I nearly brought all of my recyclables home to Portland so as not to contribute to the insanity. (In fact, after I wrote this, I went home and unpacked and I HAD brought my empty travel-size shampoo bottle home with me.)

Am I missing something here? Is it DIFFICULT to use two separate containers for waste? Does it not help our environment? If all those items WEREN'T in the landfill, how is that NOT worth it? Is it not economically feasible for some reason? My very conservative "hometown" in South Dakota has a mandatory program in place and the population there is only 62,167. What does that say about you, New York?

This is just plain unacceptable. Attention New Yorkers: your taxes will go up LESS if you do your part to recycle.... think of it as one extra pair of fancy shoes per year.

http://www.nrdc.org/cities/recycling/gnyc.asp#tips

Losing control?

2006-12-13T15:23:00.000-08:00

I think I liked it better when South Dakota was NOT in the news on a regular basis...

The significance of this unfortunate event (see article) is that S.D. law states that the governor of the state shall appoint a replacement in the event that a senator dies or resigns. Well, the senator of South Dakota is republican, so he will most definitely replace Senator Johnson with a republican. That means that the majority (which was narrowly won by the democrats in November) will not be democratic.

Sen. Johnson Suffers Possible Stroke
Dec 13, 6:12 PM (ET)

By MARY CLARE JALONICK

WASHINGTON (AP) - Democratic Sen. Tim Johnson of South Dakota suffered a possible stroke Wednesday and was taken to a Washington hospital, weeks before his party was to take control of the Senate by a one-vote margin. Democrats won a 51-49 majority in the November election. South Dakota's governor, who would appoint any temporary replacement, is a Republican.
Johnson, who will 60 on Dec. 28, became disoriented during a conference call with reporters at midday Wednesday, stuttering in response to a question. He appeared to recover and asked if there were any additional questions, then ended the call. Spokeswoman Julianne Fisher said he walked back to his Capitol office after the call but appeared to not be feeling well. The Capitol physician came to his office and examined him, and it was decided he should go to the hospital.

He was taken by ambulance to George Washington University Hospital around noon, Fisher said. "It was caught very early," she said. Johnson's office released a statement saying he had suffered a possible stroke. "At this stage, he is undergoing a comprehensive evaluation by the stroke team," the statement read. The White House issued a statement wishing him a speedy recovery.

"Our thoughts and prayers are with Senator Johnson and his family," said spokesman Alex Conant. If the two-term senator must be replaced, South Dakota Gov. Mike Rounds would make the appointment. If the Senate is split 50-50, the vice president breaks ties. That is Republican Dick Cheney at present. Johnson is up for re-election in 2008.
South Dakota Secretary of State Chris Nelson said there are no special restrictions on such an appointment by the governor and a replacement would not have to be from the same political party. Johnson, a centrist Democrat, was first elected to the Senate in 1996 and has been one of the more reserved members of the chamber, rarely taking center stage at news conferences. He served in the House for 10 years from 1987 to 1997. His focus has been on committee assignments important to his state's interests - Indian Affairs and Energy and Natural Resources - as well as a spot on Appropriations. The latter allows him to direct funds to South Dakota. Johnson narrowly defeated Republican John Thune in his 2002 re-election bid. Thune defeated Democratic Sen. Tom Daschle two years later. Thune issued a statement saying his prayers were with Johnson and his family. Rounds also issued a statement, saying he was hoping for good news. Johnson has worked as a lawyer and county prosecutor and served several years in the 1970s and 1980s in the South Dakota state Legislature.

Both Johnson and his wife have battled cancer. The senator underwent prostate cancer treatment in 2004, and subsequent tests have shown him to be clear of the disease. Barb Johnson is a breast cancer survivor. The couple have two sons and a daughter: Brooks, who served in the U.S. Army in Bosnia, Kosovo, South Korea, Afghanistan and Iraq; Brendan, a Sioux Falls lawyer, and Kelsey, who works in Washington. In response to one reporter's question on the Wednesday conference call, Johnson said he was most looking forward to spending the holidays with his family and grandchildren. Johnson is the second senator to become ill after the Nov. 7 election. Wyoming Sen. Craig Thomas, a Republican, was diagnosed with leukemia on Election Day. He is back at work.

Plan B

2006-12-06T12:51:00.000-08:00

BREAKING NEWS: Plan B, or emergency contraception, is now available nationwide withOUT a prescription for women 18 or older. (It has actually been distributed for more than a month.) Now it will be more effective because women will not have to call their doctor and wait for the prescription to be filled! Cost ranges from about $30-$60.

Only Arkansas, Georgia, Mississippi and South Dakota allow pharmacists to opt out of providing emergency contraceptives.

Today's Virgo Horoscope

2006-12-01T09:28:00.000-08:00

Ok, so I'm not one who really believes in these DAILY horoscopes (although the sun sign profiles are always right on) but sometimes the excite.com dailies are eerily accurate....

If you've been looking high and low for a true sense of purpose, stop the search. You are not going to receive some sort of mystical sign from beyond as to what you should be doing with your life. Instead, pull your focus in and examine the things you enjoy -- because enjoying life is as good a purpose as any. Spend your time exploring whatever gives you the biggest sense of accomplishment. This is where you will find what you've been seeking.

Frustrated.

2006-11-30T15:52:00.000-08:00

I am becoming increasingly frustrated because I feel like I will offend friends and family who read my blog. I have never been one to sugarcoat the truth or my thoughts or opinions, so it worries me that I will create drama by writing truthfully and candidly about my thoughts, ideas and opinions.

On one hand, I use this blog as a kind of diary for my life. I do this so that people can keep up with my life without having to talk to me everyday. I don't know if that is the right approach, because it is one-sided: only a handful of my friends actually HAVE blogs AND keep up with them (and some of them aren't about their daily happenings, which I think is so great.) So everyone knows what's going on in my life, but I don't always know what's going on in theirs. (I also think this is kind of ok since it forces people to stay in touch by phone or in person which I MUCH prefer. Also- please leave comments!!)

On the other hand, if this blog/diary is for ME, then I should be able to vent if I need to or express whatever is on my mind and NOT restrain myself. Some worthwhile realizations come from the naked truth.... Whether its good or bad.

I guess the question then becomes, who is this blog FOR and who am I trying to please? Myself or my friends and family? WHO IS MY AUDIENCE? Is it worth publishing what I think at the risk of offending the people that I love? Can I just make these "potentially offensive" posts private instead of public? I suppose so, but what would be the point (really) of having a blog?

But I think most importantly, can I censor myself if I don't even believe in censorship? The answer is no. And the solution to my rejection of censorship (in general) is that if it offends you or if you don't like it or understand it, don't read it. Or listen to it. Or watch it. How's THAT for not sugarcoating?

So, I will now be writing without restraint. If you are easily offended or if you find that you disagree with me often, perhaps my blog is not for you. Or maybe this is a great opportunity for you to express YOUR views (in the comments section, by phone or in person) relative to the subject of any post. I'd love to hear from you!

This is already refreshing. Ahhhhh.

10 Things I WOULD BE Very Thankful For

2006-11-22T15:24:00.000-08:00

10 Things I WOULD BE very thankful for (in no order, and this ONLY 10 things)- not to say that I am NOT thankful for so many things that I do have.... I just thought I would do something different. Happy Thanksgiving.

1. Effective Oregon Driver's Education
2. Effective California Driver's Education (Hello Lindsay Lohan)
3. Effective Washington Driver's Education (I grew up in SD and never took driver's ed and I am a much better driver than west coasters)
4. People who donate to refugees who will be arriving on Portland in January (contact me if interested.)
5. If my mom came to visit me in Portland
6. Any family members and friends who visit me in Portland. I love hosting!
7. Rich people donating to a good cause, or to anything for that matter. I just volunteered for Loaves & Fishes this week. I stood outside of a grocery store and harassed (ok, politely asked people if they would be interested in donating a meal or two to a home-bound senior) and the men who drove up in their 2006 Mercedes and the women in their 2007 BMW SUVs all seemed to give the cold shoulder. Some of them didn't even acknowledge that my friend Cecelia and I were talking to them, they just ignored us. The young to middle-age and not-so-affluent people were the ones who were receptive and sometimes excited about paying just $2.90 (minimum, for ONE meal. You could buy a month for about $20 or an entire month for $87- probably a measly fraction of that doctor's income.) This doesn't make any sense to me.
8. If I could give my dad just one more hug. Or thank you. Or "I love you."
9. If there was a junction box in the ceiling of my studio so I could mount my ceiling fan that is halfway out of the box and occupying a significant amount of floor space in my place.
10. If I could meet a person who could show me (consciously or not) to realize what I am supposed to be doing with my life.

Staying Dry

2006-11-16T08:50:00.000-08:00

Today on citysearch.com, the poll question was, "Do real Portlanders use rain gear?"

Of course we use rain gear! (Though I'm not sure what a "real" Portlander is.) We are known nationwide for our rain. (Unfortunately seems to be the ONLY thing we are known for. Sad, since there is SOOOOO much more to Portland.)

People here ride their bicycles, scooters and motorcycles year-round. You don't see THEM without raingear. Hell, the other night when it was 45 degrees outside, there were people sitting at the outdoor tables at a coffee shop, and that is not uncommon. My old next door neighbors and I used to sit outside on our shared balcony with our beanies, blankets and beer conversing for hours on fall and winter nights. Even in the rain. It's almost like we refuse to let go of summer....

I do think there are some people who refuse to use rain gear. We are such a wet city in the fall and winter and our surroundings have been designed to accommodate that. Most bus stops and entries are covered. We have lots of hats. We own shoes and boots that have been waterproofed. These things make it tempting if not unnecessary for umbrellas or rain jackets. But I think it's safe to say that most Portlanders own a rain jacket and nearly everyone owns at least one umbrella.

The truth is, we have to be prepared for rain at any time. Once on a partly cloudy fall afternoon, I walked a few blocks to the local bookstore and by the time I was done shopping, the weather had changed drastically- it had started pouring rain. I admit that I should have brought my umbrella. I didn't anticipate the downpour and on my rather soaking walk home, a passerby asked me, "Where's your UMBRELLA?! Where is it? You're in Portland!!" Ok, so sometimes we FORGET our umbrellas or don't anticipate the rain....

Excitement, again

2006-11-14T11:42:00.000-08:00

Rhonda and her husband are our clients. I just finished their construction documents the week before this footage and they are set to be on HGTV (Home and Garden TV) next year for their addition/remodel which will probably now be expeditited. Great timing for insurance purposes....

Sorry, I should have posted this last week when it happened. Lately I feel like things like this have been happening dangerously close to my life.... (see also "The Armed Robber Next Door"- July 12, 2006.) Or, maybe my life really is as exciting as you read about! You decide.

(You'll have to copy & paste the link below into your browser....unless someone can tell me how to make the movie window appear here.)
http://www.katu.com/home/video/4581586.html?video=pop&t=a

My "To Do" List

2006-11-13T08:20:00.000-08:00

1. Try out some sort of Martial Art
2. Learn how to type. The real, official way- not with just SIX fingers like I do now.
3. TRAVEL!!! As much as I can!!
a. Africa. Specifically, see the Sahara Desert.
b. Hawaii
c. Greece
d. Morocco
e. Australia/New Zealand
f. more of Europe: Netherlands, Sweden, Ireland, Czech Republic, Belgium, Canary Islands, Majorca.
g. Mexico. Unbelieveable I know, but I've never been there.
h. South America- Peru, Chile, Ecuador, Argentina (Andes!!) and Brazil
i. Thailand, Laos
j. India
4. Try out for a play or do some sort of acting
5. 'Create' things again
6. Sail
7. Learn how to fly (a plane preferably)
8. Go to the Roden Crater (http://www.rodencrater.org/)
9. Go to the Lightning Field (http://www.lightningfield.org/)
10. Help build a house in Guatemala.
11. Victoria Falls
12. (I will repost as this list changes and grows.....)

After Election Day 2006

2006-11-09T08:33:00.000-08:00

"Democrats Projected to Sweep Congress, "Democrats Win Control of Congress," "Sen. Burns Concedes Montana Race," "Dems Plan to Force Change in Iraq Policy," " Virginia Win Gives Democrats the Senate ," "Pelosi Says Democrats Are Ready to Lead." These headlines give me goosebumps. When I read the articles, I get a chill. This is a clear sign that America is not happy about how our country has been run. I heard a radio clip of a man in the south who said that he had voted republican since he was old enough to vote, but that this year he voted straight democrat. I did a double take yesterday when George Bush actually admitted that (he and) his administration have made mistakes.

I hope this is a sign that we will be moving in a different direction.

The elections are always very emotional for me. I can't stand listening to the opponent basking in his or her victory. On election night 2004 I was with a group of friends watching the results come in. We watched the results until about 11pm. By then, South Dakota Senator (democrat) Tom Daschle (who was Senate Majority Leader) had lost to John Thune and the map appeared to be mostly red. I remember waking up the day after election day with the television on (a bit hungover) and seeing that John Kerry had conceded. I went to work that morning and cried off and on all day. I started researching jobs abroad immediately. I did not want to be a part of this country at all.

Although the war and numerous scandals seemed to be the most important issue in this year's election (they ARE very important), the most important issue for me was abortion. I don't believe that the government can tell me what I can or can't do with my own body, what is right or wrong for me. South Dakota has rejected a measure that would have outlawed abortion under any circumstances.

Whether or not the initiative was rejected because of its "extreme" nature (it did not offer exceptions in instances of rape, incest or when the mother's life is in danger) is not important right now. Pro-Lifers expected an immediate appeal to an earlier abortion ban but that went wrong when activists got a petition to force the initiative onto the ballot. Pro-Lifers will have to come up with another strategy which will have to go before a now-democratic Congress. After the votes were counted, Pro-Lifers said that voters were confused because they thought they were voting "no" for the initiative when supporting it meant voting yes. Or, voters are smarter than they think and they really did reject it. Oregon and California also rejected measures for parental notification of teen girls' abortions.

Finally, it seems I am becoming proud of America again.... Until I read quotes like this one in an article from CNN.com:
"The church teaches it's wrong to kill no matter what," said 39-year-old Martha Fiegen, a Sioux Falls home maker who voted in favor of the ban. "I believe life is sacred and every life is worth living."
Interesting. She voted to potentially kill the mother. I wonder if she actually read her voter pamphlet. If her daughter became pregnant and her life was in danger, would she really CHOOSE to force her daughter to die?

Yesterday during lunchtime I spoke with my mom who claims and talks as if she is a staunch republican (which is ironic because my grandfather- who is democrat- ran for public office in the 1990s and she was his biggest supporter... it's something my grandfather and I can't explain.) She hadn't even heard any results from ANY elections. I cannot talk to her about politics because I get too emotional, defensive and angry which makes our conversations worthless. I guess when I haven't talked to my mother in a while, I would like to talk about my family instead of arguing about politics and then being all fired up. I also don't want to waste time talking to people who have not done their non-partisan research and questioned EVERYTHING about what they have heard, whether from the media or from their friends.

I would like my readers to know that I don't claim a political party. I identify with democrats because of issues like abortion, gay marriage and war. Because they don't preach religion or follow their leader blindly. They challenge authority and encourage change.

Mother and Baby Update

2006-10-26T14:00:00.000-07:00

Ashlei is doing better! She is out of her drug-induced coma and she got to hold baby Macei yesterday and they think she may be able to go home by Saturday. I am so relieved.

Congratulations Ashlei! I can't wait to meet Macei. I love you both and hope to see you soon.

Mother and Baby

2006-10-25T08:55:00.000-07:00

My cousin Ashlei in Wyoming gave birth via emergency c-section in Denver last night. Ashlei has always had asthma and has been on all kinds of steroids and been to the ER numerous times. She keeps our family on our toes.... Last night her lungs collapsed and they had to get the baby out to save her. Macei Jill is 4 weeks early.

As of now, Macei is doing great. She is in the regular nursery. Her apgar scores were great (I really have no idea what 'apgar' scores are, but it sounds good.) Ashlei on the other hand isn't doing so well. Her lung surgery went okay but not as well as expected. They had to put her on a ventilator and she is now in a drug-induced coma. She has had to have 2 blood transfusions.

I really can't believe this is happening. It takes me back to that place of horror, disbelief, denial. I think and hope that she will be ok, but I really don't know that for sure. In reality, nobody does. We take so much for granted. Please keep my cousin Ashlei and her baby in your thoughts as my family and I hope for the best.

My Unruly Hair

2006-10-06T15:58:00.000-07:00

Sometimes my hair has a mind of its own. It seems to be confused (in some areas of my head) about whether or not it is supposed to be curly or straight, but I do like being blonde and I am still amazed everyday that hair can naturally be so curly/wavy. I don't particularly enjoy the frizz either, but I don't live in the humidity of the south so its usually not a huge issue. With the locks come dryness and brittleness which I have spent hundreds of dollars in products trying to remedy. These products though are like over-the-counter drugs: I become immune to them eventually.

It took me nearly 29 years to begin to appreciate my hair.

New Car, New Me

2006-09-27T21:42:00.000-07:00

I have given up the "luxury" of a 4WD standard cab pickup for the practicality of a fuel-efficient sedan. No more stuffing the contents of my life behind 2 bucket seats, sometimes having to move the passenger seat forward to stuff more crap behind. No more phone calls from my beloved friends to help them move!! Hip hip hooray!! I now have four doors, a moonroof, power locks/windows/side view mirrors and, best of all- TRUNK!!! It's like another ROOM!

My "new" car is not NEW, but it is new to me.

This is the first time I've had the opportunity to PICK OUT my own vehicle. I have been lucky enough to have had a step father and a father to provide my previous vehicles for me: My first car, Honey, a 1981 fuel-injected Volkswagen Jetta (compliments of Larry, my ex-step dad.) My second was a 1991 Toyota pickup, Lucy. (Compliments of Dad when I graduated from high school. I wrecked it shortly after moving to Portland.) My third was a 1996 Toyota Tacoma, Cooter. (Also thanks to Dad. He bought it and "traded" me for my wrecked (but completely drivable!) 1991 pickup which he fixed and then sold to my grandfather.) He always bought me what HE wanted or what he wanted ME to have. I will have a hard time letting go of Cooter when he sells, mostly because it was a gift from dad.

For the past 2 years or so I have known that I didn't prefer my pickup. When I went home in spring of 2004, Dad and I were shopping for cars for me. It makes me feel better that he knew that I wanted something else before he passed away. I don't feel as if I am betraying him by selling the vehicle he purchased for me and the vehicle that I am so grateful for.

I do believe that cars become a part of you though, they match something about you or your personality or vice versa. I definitely identified with the 4WD pickup trucks, they just aren't necessary here in Portland. Montana and for college, yes. Portland without a house to remodel, no. I always thought that my theory (I swear I came up with it before Honda did) about people "matching" their cars was only true when that person picked out their own car. That would have made all three of my previous cars have nothing in common with me. But now I think that is not true. I really loved all of my cars. I think that they defined (in some weird, perhaps backwards way) who I was/am.

The whole sedan thing is taking a fair amount of getting used to. The new car is so low to the ground compared to my pickup. No more driving up on curbs to park! I will really miss that... I was invincible. I could see everything from the cabs of my pickups too. I could see over the railing of the Ross Island bridge. I was looking over cars at their roofs and now I'm staring at exhaust pipes and I feel like I am blind most of the time. Today I went through my bank's drive-thru ATM. Now I know how midgets feel. Also today I filled up the gas tank. $25 for less than 9 gallons of gasoline. Yes, it was on "E." I used to pay up to $45 for a full (17 gallons) tank of gas in the pickup. It all makes sense as far as the math goes and all, but I guess I just thought all gas tanks were the same size or something. I am having a hard time getting used to shifting into 2nd gear at 15 mph... and I am not used to using 5th gear in town. Weird.

I somehow felt safer in my pickup too, though I'm not sure why. I guess I might be dead if I would have hit that deer (in 1996- driving home for my little sister's birth) with a Honda Civic. I suppose it is the height off the ground or something. I just felt more aware in a 4WD. I know Dad wanted me to have 4WD to be safer as well- winter driving in Montana and South Dakota can be brutal. I took so much for granted.

Whether you identify with your car or not, your car and the condition of it says something about you- how much money you have/don't have, how practical you are, if you are going through a mid-life crisis or not, what you do for fun, how much you care about your possessions, etc. You can sometimes even tell someone's political views, sexual orientation, religious beliefs and much more from the stickers on a car. Geez- I mean your car is like a billboard for who you are! Not that everyone is that observant to notice these things about strangers passing you in the adjacent lane but it is possible.

So I hereby shed the burly, tomboyish, outdoorsy, recreational reputation for the more practical and conservative image.

Oh yeah- if you know anyone who's interested in buying a 1996 Toyota Tacoma SX regular cab, let me know..... manual transmission with 118,000 miles. Tough character image included.

**Many, many thanks to my friend Larry for fielding all my stupid car shopping questions, for counseling me on what to look for and what questions to ask the seller and for replying promptly to all of my forwarded craigslist ads. Thank you! thank you! Thank you!***

I HAVE Attached Photos Before!

2006-09-26T13:49:00.000-07:00

I have attached photos before. I swear!
Here is my condo without all the drunk people. Sorry for the fubarred e-mail.
-nicole

At the Carwash

2006-09-06T09:08:00.000-07:00

So, this morning on my way to work I made a pit stop at Car Wash Man. I periodically (every 1-2 years) pay the $17 for the much-needed interior/exterior clean up. They clean the inside of your windows, vacuum, dust all the dashboards and console. They take it through the car wash and use the "triple polish." When it's done in the soap tunnel they Armor All the tires and clean the exterior mirrors and dry it all off. I love it. It feels like a new truck!

While you're waiting for your new car to emerge from its rebirth you take your ticket inside to pay. They have a little store there- car mats, air fresheners, CD visor storage, etc. New this trip though was a soda case and a cappuccino machine so you can spill all over your clean car. They also have free popcorn for customers. I wonder how many kernels they vacuum out of cars per year? All in all, its a great way to maintain their business. I mean, people eat in their cars all the time- Americans can't move at the slow pace that Europeans do- we have to eat on the run! I fell for it. I got one of their over-sugared french vanilla capuccinos. It promptly swished out of the tiny hole in the lid onto my immaculate dash and spotless cup holder when I drove out of the Car Wash Man parking lot.

Letter to Jason Statham

2006-09-05T14:56:00.000-07:00

Dear Jason,

How was your weekend? Mine was great. I saw your latest movie, "Crank" on Sunday. Congrats on it being the #2 movie for the weekend. I really like it when you take your shirt off and when I caught a glimpse of your buttocks in the hospital gown. I also really adored you in "Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels" and "Snatch" even though I didn't get a glimpse of much. I also like it when you just talk.... I thoroughly enjoy your accent.

Let's take a moment to review your work history (title, (year).... character):

Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels (1998) .... Bacon (LOVED it! One of my all-time faves.)
Snatch. (2000) .... Turkish (Also LOVED it. Top 5 for sure.)
Turn It Up (2000) .... Mr. B (Looks bad baby. Sorry- never saw it.)
Ghosts of Mars (2001) .... Sgt. Jericho Butler (Wasn't your best picture but I like Ice Cube.)
The One (2001) .... MVA Agent Evan Funsch (Jet Li saved you here.)
Mean Machine (2001) .... The Broadhurst Monk (Haven't seen it yet though I want to- so many Lock, Stock actors can't be bad.)
The Transporter (2002) .... Frank Martin (Ok, except for that horrific acting by that GIRL.)
Red Faction II (2002) (VG) (voice) .... Shrike (Haven't seen it yet either. Anything with your sexy voice has got to be good though.)
The Italian Job (2003) .... Handsome Rob (Liked it a lot! Can't wait for the sequel!)
Call of Duty (2003) (VG) .... Sgt. Waters (Haven't seen it yet either. 9.2 stars out of 10?! I better get myself to the movie store!)
Collateral (2004) .... Airport Man (Not bad! I usually like Michael Mann flicks.)
Cellular (2004) .... Ethan (OMG. This movie NEVER should have been made.)
Transporter 2 (2005) .... Frank Martin (Not your best work. At least you got to drive a hot car though.)
London (2005) .... Bateman (I plan on seeing it very soon. Looks kinda good! Did they MAKE YOU grow your hair out a little?)
Revolver (2005/I) .... Jake (Four words: Guy Ritchie is God.)
Chaos (2006) .... Quentin Conners (I promise I'll see it soon, ok?)
The Pink Panther (2006) (uncredited) .... Yves Gluant (You have to be in the right mood for this type of movie....)
Crank (2006) .... Chev Chelios (Please read on.)

And in the future (post production):
In the Name of the King: A Dungeon Siege Tale (2007).... Farmer (I can't wait to see you in armor with that big sword!)
Rogue (2007/I) (post-production) .... Jack Crawford (I like the idea of you as the bad boy... I hope you don't die at the end.)
The Brazilian Job (2008) (in production) .... Handsome Rob (You don't like Charlize Theron, DO you?)

Ok, now I am writing to express my disappointment in your recent role and film choices. "Cellular" competes with "Crank" for absolute WORST movie EVER, although I know your part in that movie was a small one. I'm surprised either one of those movies made it to the big screen when they should have gone STRAIGHT to DVD. "The Transporter" wasn't a HORRIBLE movie except for that unspeakable acting by Qi Shu as "Lai." "Transporter II" on the other hand was the beginning of the end of your fabulous acting career. Were you just running out of money or what? Why couldn't you have just waited for the next Guy Ritchie movie? Or "The Brazilian Job?" "The Italian Job" was really good! But "Lock, Stock" and "Snatch" were definitely the apex of it all for you- beginner's luck I guess. Although I don't believe that you are a bad actor- you are actually an exceptional actor!- you have made some abysmal choices recently with regard to your films and for this I have to.... break up with you. I am so sorry. I hope you can understand. I hope we can still be friends.

I am crossing my fingers for your redemption though I fear it is too late.

Love always,
Nicole

The Nu-cu-ler Party

2006-08-28T09:30:00.001-07:00

A long story short: the keg was dry by midnight and we finished it on the roof where it was much cooler, much more scenic and less disruptive to my neighbors.

...clearly haven't drank enough yet...

(This is Bob, the photographer. Thanks Bob!!)

Butts galore:

...a sample of high fashion....

Following the keg was shots at (my new neighbor!) Alex's. The first one was good. I remember making faces at the 2nd shot. It appears that Choco felt the same.

The Marathon Taverna was the last stop...

...except for that stop in the middle of the street.

Happy Ending.

I would like to extend a special thanks to John (aka Kahlil) who brought PORK RINDS to the vegetarian's party.
And to whoever cleaned up the roof!

9/11 Calls Released

2006-08-16T10:25:00.000-07:00

(See AP story below)

I don't know that I have really ever been too emotional about the 9/11 attacks as nobody I know was harmed. In fact, I think I am still in shock and denial even though I visited Ground Zero last year. I guess since I know what it is like now to lose a loved one suddenly, this story hit me pretty hard today. Can you imagine listening to your brother, sister, husband or wife's distressed voice in his or her last moments of life? I keep thinking what if I had been talking to my dad when he started having his fatal heart attack or even if I had talked to him an hour before....

I can try to imagine what tone these people have in their voices- knowing or speculating that these moments are your last. How horrible and terrifying. What would I say? Would I really call 911 or would I call my mom? What if she didn't answer? It is so hard to grasp what these faceless voices are going through. Just the quotes in the article made me cry, but if I had heard the fear and truth in their voices, even though I don't know these people, it would have been even more emotional.

I think the 5 years in between then and now (to let the family members hear the tapes) was much more healthy than releasing them right away. I know that time was unintentional as NYT had to sue to get them released, but a healthy amount of time nonetheless.

9/11 Emergency Call Tapes Released
Aug 16, 12:30 PM (ET)
By AMY WESTFELDT

NEW YORK (AP) - A fire official described near chaos inside the World Trade Center, with communication becoming increasingly difficult as firefighters tried to reach people trapped by a devastating blaze raging high overhead, recordings released Wednesday of emergency phone calls from the Sept. 11 attacks show. "We're in a state of confusion," said Chief Dennis Devlin of Battalion 9. "We have no cell phone service anywhere because of the disaster ... Bring all the additional handy talkies."

Devlin tried to get a rundown of all the companies dispatched to the burning 110-story buildings. He was still inside the south Trade Center tower when it collapsed. The same mix of concern and confusion was evident in recordings of more of the 1,613 previously undisclosed emergency calls made amid the horror in the towers after the hijacked planes hit the trade center.

"One of the towers just collapsed," said a fire lieutenant on another call. "Everybody's got to be inside of it. ... There's got to be thousands of the people inside it. One of the towers just came down on everybody."
Frantic callers trapped on the upper floors of the burning World Trade Center sought help from emergency operators, who were unable to offer much more than words of encouragement. "There's heavy smoke and flames and the building management is announcing that everything is all right, and it's not and they're confused," said one fire dispatcher after fielding a phone call from someone trapped on the 82nd floor. Another operator, speaking to someone stranded on the 103rd floor, promised, "I'm going to do my best." "I want you to go on the floor. Kneel on the floor. On the floor," said another operator. Another, speaking to a woman stuck on the 83rd floor, offered hope of a rescue team that never appeared.

"Listen to me, ma'am," that operator told a panicky Melissa Doi during a 20-minute phone call. "You're not dying. You're in a bad situation, ma'am." A portion of Doi's end of the conversation was played for jurors in April at the trial of Sept. 11 conspirator Zacarias Moussaoui. "I'm going to die, aren't I?" Doi asked the dispatcher.
"Ma'am, just stay calm for me, OK?" the dispatcher said. The conversation ended with the operator trying vainly to speak with Doi, a financial manager for IQ Financial Systems: "Not dead, not dead," the operator said to no response. "They sound like deep sleep." The phone line cut out. Doi never made it out of the World Trade Center.

"Oh, my lord," said the operator, whose words to Doi were previously not made public.
The newly released calls included the voices of Devlin, 18 other firefighters and two emergency medical technicians killed in the collapses, although most of the calls are from firefighters asking dispatchers where they should report for duty, the Fire Department said. One tape contained an unidentified firefighter calling from the 35th floor, reporting a chaotic scene of civilians - some with burn injuries - heading down the stairwell as the firefighters headed up.
"Apparently it's above the 75th floor," the firefighter said. "I don't know if they got there yet. We're still heading up."
About a dozen family members of 9/11 victims arrived in a midtown Manhattan conference room Wednesday to hear the tapes, which again raised questions about the lack of communication on the scene.

"We're still looking for information for how we can fix what went wrong that day," said Aggie McCaffrey, whose brother Orio Palmer was among the 343 firefighters killed. The New York Times and family members sued for access to the emergency calls and firefighters' oral histories. Attorneys said they wanted to find out what happened inside the towers after two hijacked jetliners crashed into them and what dispatchers told workers and rescuers. The calls also include 10 previously unreleased 911 calls from people trapped in the towers, although those calls include only the voices of the operators who heard their pleas. The city in March released transcripts of 130 calls from people, including only the voices of operators and other public employees. The callers' voices were cut out after city attorneys argued that their pleas for help were too emotional and intense to be publicized without their families' consent. Thousands of pages of emergency workers' oral histories and radio transmissions were released last August. Fire Commissioner Nicholas Scoppetta ordered his department to search for additional recordings when another tape turned up shortly after the March release of 911 calls. City officials listened to all calls to emergency and fire dispatchers between 8:45 a.m. and 10:45 a.m. on Sept. 11 to locate all available recordings. Families of the 21 rescuers identified in the calls have been notified, the department said. Because they were public employees, their entire calls were released.

Biloxi, One Year After Katrina

2006-08-07T15:08:00.000-07:00

I went to Biloxi, Mississippi to be in Suzanne's (a friend from architecture school) wedding. She grew up there. Suzanne and I were there for a month or so in 1998. I found myself saying (many times) "Hey Suz- isn't that your favorite smoothie shop?" to which she would reply, "WAS- It's not there anymore." Or "Look- It's the store where we bought..." and Suzanne would say, "Yes, that's where it used to be."

Being in Biloxi was so much more powerful than seeing all the media coverage even though it was a year ago. I think one of the reasons it was more powerful is because we at home saw mostly New Orleans where the damage was pretty bad, but Biloxi got hit the hardest. Along the waterfront, there weren't many buildings left....

Notice the same sign in the background.... This is at Mary Mahoney's- where the rehearsal dinner was held.

I talked to many people about their stories. That is far different from hearing an interview on television as well. I talked to the shuttle driver, the 3rd bridesmaid and the bride's mother among other people. I could tell that they had told their stories many times by the sureness of their words and their lack of emotion but each person saw something positive, even if it was that they bonded with their neighbors by helping to fix each others' roofs.

Cara, the other bridesmaid told about how she and her family of 3 young girls, husband and 2 dogs put all the twin matresses in the hallway. They filled up the bathtub with clean water because it was inevitable that the water would be out. They gave the girls Benadryl to help them to sleep. Cara and her husband would keep checking out the windows to see what had been damaged. A tree fell into their roof and water leaked into the attic. She told of how she remembered from childhood to poke holes in the gypsum on the ceiling to relieve pressure. They put out all kinds of buckets to collect water.

All that's left of the bride's parents' house is the foundation and the studs. They will not have to rebuild from scratch like a lot of people will have to do. Suzanne's mother showed us a Christmas ornament that their neighbors found in their yard. It was beaten up like it had been through the wash many many times. They are waiting to see if the can get a grant from FEMA. The are living in Little Rock, Arkansas for now. I had a conversation with her about traffic as some of the bridges are being rebuilt or are still out. It made sense to me that there was less traffic because some families had been displaced, which would make the problem of less bridges less of a problem. Not necessarily, Judy said- there were lots of construction workers from all over the country here.

But, although the trip was appalling and shocking in so many ways, I had so much fun seeing Suzanne again and helping her get everything ready for the big day. I even got to share a room with her the first two nights so we got to catch up. She looked so stunning! -Not just in that gorgeous wedding dress but she and her (now) husband Joshua lost 70 pounds together! Great job Suzanne and Joshua!!!

Me, Suzanne (the beautiful bride) and bridesmaid/friend Marni

Carpooler

2006-07-21T09:19:00.000-07:00

Nothing else screams "carpool" more than living in the same building as a girl who works just 3 blocks from my job. Angie and I started carpooling today. Although it may be only one or two days a week that it works out for us to carpool, I feel like I am starting to do my part to conserve.

It's not just gas prices that are motivating me to make this change. If you have not seen the film “End of Suburbia: Oil Depletion And the Collapse of the American Dream” go out and rent it (or buy it) today. It drastically changed the way I think about the way I live and how things are going to change in the future because of the lingering energy crisis. Our dependence on a resource that is finite is coming to an end. Suburbanites will be hit the hardest- they rely solely on their automobiles for transport and their cookie-cutter homes in the "burbs" will DEpreciate instead of Appreciate. What will we do when our public transport is overflowing because everyone has been forced to abandon their cars? I purchased a condominium 2 blocks from public transportation and conserving energy and resources was a huge part of my location choice. (I am also shopping for a VW Golf TDI- If you're selling yours, let me know!! They are rare here in Portland.)

Many restaurants here use only locally grown and made foods which reduces the need for transportation of these goods. I recently read the article in Portland Monthly titled, "How Green Are We?" (I highly recommend reading it) and I must say that I am very proud to be a Portlander. Even some of our buses use biodiesel! But although I believe that Portland is way ahead of the game, we are surely not prepared for this crisis.

Gas prices will continue to climb as oil supplies lessen. Future generations will see our current automobiles in museums and wonder what it was like to drive a gasoline-powered car. Enjoy it while it lasts, but please enjoy it less.

One Year Later

2006-07-12T10:23:00.000-07:00

WARNING: This may be a very uncomfortable post for some of you to read, but this is a huge day for me and I feel that I need to share it. Read at your own risk.

It has been one year since my dad has passed away. I keep replaying that day in my head and I wonder what his last moments were like. I keep replaying the phone call from my uncle. I never get phone calls from family during the day unless they are coming to Portland soon or unless something's wrong. I could hear it in his voice that something was wrong, but I cheerily asked him if he was in Portland. When he said no, I asked him where he was. He asked me if my boss was here at work with me. I said no. I asked why and he asked me if any of my coworkers were here. I replied yes and he told me to give the phone to someone. By the time I got up and walked 10 feet to my coworker's desk, tears were streaming down my face. I was sure that something had happened to my grandmother or grandfather.

I handed my cell phone to Kerry, my coworker. I told him that it was my uncle and that he needed to speak to him. He answered and then said "ok" a couple of times and then handed it back to me. I don't remember exactly what my uncle said to me, but I remember saying, "NO! NO! NO!" I don't remember much about the next while- I remember crying on the stairs and seeing my phone by the front door of our office. I can't imagine how hard it was for my uncle to tell his niece that her father has just died. And I can't imagine what it was like for him to tell his mother and father that their son has died- he answered the phone at my grandma's when the call came. That must have been one of the hardest things he has ever done.

I went to my pickup and called my mom. She was so happy to see on the caller id that it was me- she said "Hello!" so happily. I was sobbing and I just said, "Mom, dad died." She asked me, "What?!" and so I said it again.... and she just kept saying, "Oh my God Oh my God Oh my God! No! No! No!" as she became just as hysterical as I was. Her state was not helping me at all, so I had to hang up. I eventually drove home. I could barely see I was crying so hard.

Eventually, I went to the store across the street from my apartment- I had just moved in two weeks before. I bought a big bottle of Excedrin Tension Headache, a big bottle of Tylenol PM and a big box of Puffs Plus. Being in public in a state like that is absolutely horrible. I am so grateful that those "bug eye" sunglasses were the trend.

I couldn't think straight. I went through all my things (some boxes not even unpacked yet) trying to find photos, objects that he had given me and things that reminded me of him. I found some photos and other little things from trips we had taken. I relived each one of our trips. We always had so much fun. I loved sleeping in his semi truck and visiting St. Regis and the Silver Dollar Bar in Montana on our way to Oregon. He was always the one who took me places and made sure that I saw everywhere that I wanted to see.

I talked to everyone in my family. I took a bath. Some of my friends called but I just couldn't talk to them so I let them leave messages. I finally got up the nerve to call dad's cell phone so I could hear his voice. His girlfriend Dona answered. She told me everything. I know she wasn't thinking when she told me all the details. It was painful and I know I should have cut her off or something, but I wanted to know more even though it was so painful. I asked her to not answer the next call because I was going to call back and I wanted to hear his voice on the voice mail. I can't imagine what it was like to be there when it happened, to see someone that you love suffer and pass away right in front of you. I was relieved that my dad was not alone when he died.

I think about all that has happened in a year and I know that my dad would be proud of me and that he would have supported me in whatever decisions I made. He never questioned me, he just always trusted in me and my abilities. I have learned and grown so much and I believe that I have changed for the better. It took me so long to be able to BE and be able to SEE the positive things and to celebrate my dad. Although my dad's death was the most traumatic thing that has happened to me, I am a much stronger person for going through this all. I am proud of where and who I am because I know my dad would be proud and that he, directly or indirectly, has helped me get to where I am. I am so grateful to have had him in my life for as long as I did.

I miss him and his unforgettable laugh so much.

The Armed Robber Next Door

2006-07-12T09:30:00.000-07:00

Last night was probably the most excitement I have had for a long time. An armed robber was hiding out in a van next to the house next to our office!

At about 4:30, 6 police cars were instantly at the intersection near our building. They did not have their sirens on, so I didn't even notice them until I looked out the window and saw what appeared to be and undercover agent of some sort pulling out his badge. My coworkers and I went outside to see what was going on and one of the cops was motioning (not talking or yelling) for us to go back inside. For about the next hour we were all glued to the windows. There was a sniper on the roof of the building behind ours and his gun was pointed at the van that was in the driveway next door. There was also a sniper with his gun propped up on a car across the street in front of our building. At this time, we still didn't know exactly where he was hiding out but we speculated that they were trying to flush him out of somewhere over there.

All this time, I am worried because I traded pickups with my friend for the day and his truck was in the street right in front of the house next door. I was sure his truck was going to be full of holes when this whole thing was over.

We heard a knock at the door and the cop who motioned for us to "go back inside" was there with another cop who had an AR-15 (a big friggin' gun)- they came to escort us to a "safer place." It was crazy- The cop with the big gun was walking backwards with his gun pointed at the house next door with us behind him. I don't think i've ever been that close to that big of a gun. They escorted us across the street to the paint store where we watched at a distance for a while until they made us go inside the paint store for safety. We hung out there for a while whre we couldn't see much except the cops stading by their cars chatting.

While we were in the paint store, 3 SWAT vans pulled up and took over as the Portland Police backed off. One of the SWAT vans had a bomb robot. Crazy. When the robber was finally arrested, we were let outside again. We watched the SWAT team drive away and we could finally leave. We talked to the super nice policeman who told us the story- that the guy had robbed a bank in Milwaukie (a suburb) yesterday and that there was a high speed chase that ended in our neighborhood. The guy fled on foot and jumped the fence behind our building and found the van next door.

Last night was our season opener for softball and I missed the first game. That made me angry at that bank robber. Grrrrr!

http://katu.com/stories/87533.html

The roof of the building behind ours

Sniper across the street

My coworkers and I waiting at the paint store

SWAT team- My building is the one one the corner

Behind the SWAT truck is my friend's truck....it's burgundy with a topper....

Two Kinds of People?

2006-07-07T13:36:00.000-07:00

I used to think that each person was either a "MAKE things happen" kind of person or a "LET things happen" kind of person. I have realized that one can be both. The trick is to recognize WHEN to be which one.....

Futbol, the Most Beautiful Sport in the World

2006-06-12T13:51:00.000-07:00

I have always been a futbol (soccer) fan, though I have to admit I have lost touch with the sport a bit in the past years. I'm not very good at playing it so I quit, but I have always enjoyed watching the game. I can honestly say that it is the only sport I can watch on television and never get bored. The ball is always moving, the clock never stops- there is a guaranteed maximum game time of 2 hours start to finish. I mean- I like watching a basketball, football or baseball game as long as I'm AT the game- not sitting on some couch entertaining myself with beer and junk food.

I have to admit that I like to see all the slide tackling and roughness in soccer as well.

If you haven't watched futbol before, take a couple of hours in the next month and watch a World Cup match. (I suggest sooner rather than later.) I became addicted to watching the World Cup after just a minute of watching the England vs. Paraguay game early Saturday morning. I watched all 5 other matches this past weekend and I have the "MatchCast" behind my PowerCADD window and check it frequently while I'm here at work.... I even go to the local British pub at lunchtime to watch the first half of the noon (PST) games.

I think soccer is a form of art. Such amazing use of the human body relative to the ball is somehow so beautiful. The game is simple and complex at the same time. John Lancaster best describes the elegance of the sport in the June 2006 issue of National Geographic:

"At some deep level the reason soccer snags us is that good soccer is beautiful, and it's difficult, and the two are related. A team kicking the ball to each other, passing into empty space that is suddenly filled by a player who wasn't there two seconds ago and who is running at full pelt and who without looking or breaking stride knocks the ball back to a third player who he surely can't have seen, who, also at full pelt and without breaking stride, the passes the ball, at say 60 miles an hour, to land on the head of a fourth player who has run 75 yards to get there and who, again all in stride, jumps and heads the ball with, once you realize how hard this is, unbelievable power and accuracy toward a corner of the goal just exactly where the goalkeeper, executing some complex physics entirely without conscious thought and through muscle-memory, has expected it to be, so that all this grace and speed and muscle and athleticism and attention to detail and power and precision will never appear on a score sheet and will be forgotten by everybody a day later- this is the strange fragility, the evanescence of soccer. It's hard to describe and it is even harder to do, but it does have a deep beauty, a beauty hard to talk about and that everyone watching a game discovers for themselves, a secret thing, and this is the reason why soccer, which has so much ugliness around it and attached to it, still sinks so deeply into us: Because it is, it can be, so beautiful."

I understand though that one may have to play or have played the game and know the rules to thoroughly enjoy watching it and to fully appreciate it.

I really love watching the players faces as well as the game itself. So many emotions are revealed- anger, pain, happiness, anticipation, pressure, aggressiveness, competitiveness. http://fifaworldcup.yahoo.com/06/en/w/photozone.html The fans' faces can be equally as emotional. When the first goal was scored fairly late in the first half of the Italy vs. Ghana game (Ghana being the underdog- this is the country's first World Cup ever), the camera went to a young boy in Ghana's colors whose entire body sank as his face fell into his hands. It was only maybe 2 seconds of footage, but the overwhelming emotion of that boy made me want to cry. Everyone watching the boy made the choral and contrite "awww."

Language & Diversity
To give a view of soccer worldwide, articles in this National Geographic issue prove that soccer stops wars, starts wars, sells products, is a performance, heals countries, makes grown men weep, promotes peace and provokes violence that sometimes leads to death. Henning Mankell writes, "War could never kill soccer in Angola. The soccer fields are demilitarized zones.... It is harder for people who play soccer together to go out and kill each other." How can ONE thing be so powerful?

The diversity of the teams and their respective languages also adds to the World Cup in that opposing teams may not speak the same language and therefore, neither receives cues that would normally allow players to read the other team's strategy. This communication barrier is also advantageous relative to the referees. When a call is made by a referee and an argument is made by a player because of the call, the ref may not understand the language of the player and so no time is wasted on the clock for a "bad call."

Overall though, the sport is universal. It is played (or can be played) in every country in the world. In National Geographic Sean Wilsey writes, "Soccer's universality is its simplicity-- the fact that the game can be played anywhere with anything. Urban children kick the can on concrete and rural kids kick a rag wrapped around a rag wrapped around a rag, barefoot, on dirt."

Muchas Gracias!

2006-06-09T15:34:00.000-07:00

For all you out there who are die hards and have been hounding me to keep blogging, I am convinced that there is magically less time in a day the further away from the equator you are. I will still blog but I am afraid that until my life settles down (moving into my condo over the next couple of weeks!) I will be randomly writing.

I have endless thanks for you for reading. There were so many times when I thought my writing was only for myself. I learned fairly quickly who was reading everyday. I soon began to "view blog" as soon as I logged in to see if anyone had left comments. It really brightened my day to see new comments! It really meant a lot to me that you took the time to read and comment, that you were as interested in my adventure as I was and that you gave me such great support while I was in Guatemala. I know your support will continue now that I am back and I want to thank you.

Muchas Gracias!

ps- I have added photos to a lot of my posts and I will continue to add photos as I receive them in e-mails....

Back to the Real World

2006-06-01T13:54:00.000-07:00

I don't think I experienced culture shock arriving in Guatemala like I did when I got back to Portland. It was rainy and I was not ready to come back to the real world. I really love Portland, but mentally I am still in Guatemala. It was really great to see everyone here but I expected some things that never happened: I expected to miss luxuries like my pickup, my cell phone, pizza, the english language. It seems the only luxury I missed was sushi and I can do without that, really.

I had a hard time at the Atlanta airport listening to all the english speakers. I kept trying to translate phrases into spanish. I still am, though the urge has lessened which makes me sad because I know I have already begun to lose some of the spanish I worked on for the entire month. I don't want to speak english, I want to keep learning and being immersed in spanish. I hate that I kind of have no control over that. All the inside jokes that my fellow spanish students and I shared aren't as funny to anyone here... I try to explain them, but all I get is a small chuckle. I miss Norberto, Yes-si, Sterling, Bea, Janneke, Sergej, Lisa, Sanne and Carolina so much.

The only thing I am unhappy with is my weight gain. I gained 11 pounds! My baggiest pants before I left are now pretty snug. I am proud that I didn't hold back at all while in Guatemala though. I ate dessert whenever I wanted to, I usually cleaned my plate of delicious "tipico" food and I drank horchata and cuba libras like they were going out of style. It is time again to log on to weightwatchers.com and begin my diet again. The hardest part will be retraining myself to refuse all the portion sizes and fatty foods which I enjoyed so much while gone.

I won't miss being gawked and whistled at by the local men while walking down the street. I won't miss the noisy, roaring buses blowing dust and black exhaust in my face. I won't miss the local men grabbing me and trying to get me to salsa dance against my will. I will not miss Monoloco. And surpisingly, I won't miss guacamole. But I will miss Guatemala as a whole.

I still hesitate about where to put my toilet paper.

Mi Ultimo Dia....

2006-05-31T10:28:00.000-07:00

Juego de Futbol
The spanish school arranged a futbol game yesterday because of much pressure from my friend Lisa and myself. Playing in Guatemala was on my list of things to do while here. There were only 10 of us including 2 people we kinda picked up at Joco Fut, the sports complex. I was hoping for lush green grass but the ¨field¨we played on was asphalt and kiddie size (which was best because we are all getting old and have gotten fat in Guatemala.) The weather was perfect and we had so much fun.

Hotel Santa Domingo
After the game I went to the most amazing place- Hotel Santa Domingo. http://www.casasantodomingo.com.gt/english/index.html It was the most gorgeous building. The hotel is built on the site of monastery ruins and there is a new monastery there as well. I didn´t have time to go through the museum, but I could see a great part of it from a patio near the pool. There were parrots everywhere and monk music (don´t know the real term, sorry) playing throughout. It was so relaxing just walking through. If you ever make it to Antigua, be sure to visit the hotel.

Final Fiesta
I bought my favorite cake from my favorite sweet shop, La Cenicienta, to share with the family after dinner. A delicious cake with white fluffy frosting and strawberries and a layer of fruit filling. (None of the sweets here are too sweet!) After packing I ate my final dinner with the Rodriguez family and Carolina, my housemate who has been such great support while I have been here.

After dinner, my peeps and I met up for my final fiesta. It was so great to see everyone one last time and exchange e-mail addresses and such. I am working on planning a trip to Holland at the end of August/ beginning of September and my friend Jesse came up with a great idea for t-shirt that I´m in charge of getting printed for everyone.... I´m hoping a particular family member will be able to help me out with that.... I got to bed really late and now I´m exhausted but it was soooo worth it. I still think the rum here has no preservatives. No goma (hangover)!!

Last night and this morning were so hard for me. I was tearful many times as I am right now. Violeta made my favorite breakfast of her amazing pancakes and we hugged and waved goodbye up until the last possible moment. I went to say final goodbyes at the spanish school too. I am at the airport now, waiting to leave but wishing I was staying.

My Last Day in Guatemala

2006-05-30T11:11:00.000-07:00

I can't believe how quickly my time here has passed. I feel like I have lived to the fullest this past month and I have really grown to love this country. There is so much life and beauty here. I am so grateful for all of the people that I met and the experiences I have had here. I am really sad to leave but I can hear the real world calling. I have also missed Portland and everyone at home but I have truly felt like this is my home too. I would not trade this experience for anything.

See you soon. Adios!
nicola

5 Days Worth

2006-05-29T07:58:00.000-07:00

Guatemalan Architect
Wow! It´s been a long time.... I have been really busy socializing, traveling and architecting. Yes, architecting! My host family bought a property outside of Antigua and asked me to advise them. We visited the site on Wednesday evening and came straight home and drew up three different options. There were many challenges involved but some things were much easier.

First, they use meters instead of feet and inches here, so I had to convert the dimensions back and forth because I can´t design in metric! It was fun though! I also didn´t have any tools- not even a straightedge or a scale so everything was drawn freehand and had no scale. The great part about the whole thing is that Parramos, where the property is, has NO RESTRICTIONS. This might sound like no big deal to most of you, but this is a dream for architects.

The site is really small, 13x6.5 meters (that´s 21´-4¨x 42´-8¨) and the Rodriguez family wanted 3 levels and 4 bedrooms. The property is surrounded on three sides by other buildings and I have to assume that they may all be at least 3 levels at some time in the future if not before construction begins. Key to the design is a small jardin (garden) in the center of the building to get light into all the rooms.

It was so fun to draw everything freehand and have complete freedom with the design. I love that I got to label the rooms in Spanish and to present my designs to the family speaking Spanish. This is truly one of the best things that has happened to me since I´ve been here. I was searching for something to connect my real life at home to my ¨vacation¨ in Guatemala and I think I have found it. I am working on coming back to help with the construction.... we´ll see how that goes.

The architecture/building process is so different here. My plans didn´t have a scale but it didn´t matter- Rafael said that he could have given the plans (that I drew in less than an hour) to the mason and he would build from them. Unbelieveable! Three sheets of plans- no elevations, no sections, no details, no site plan, nada. I love being an architect here! I don´t want to bore the non-architects too much so I can tell you more when I return if you wish.

Thursday Night & Friday Morning
Thursday night, group of us from the school met at the gringo bar, Monoloco so a few of them could watch basketball. When the game was over we all went around the corner to a bar called La Sala (translates as ¨the living room¨) which is salsa bar that is popular for its ladies night on Thursdays. After way too many cuba libras with the Monterrico group, my Dutch friend Norberto and I jumped on a Range Rover for an after party. And I literally mean ¨jumped on.¨ There were probably 13 people inside that car (no room for us) and we had no idea where this place was, so we grabbed on to the cargo rack on top of the car and found a place for one foot along with other people doing the same.

I was busy chatting with 2 guys that I was sharing the running board with when I looked to my right to find Norberto playing James Bond running along side the car trying to catch up. He had broken the wheel well and fallen off. I think you have to know this guy for it to be as funny as we think it is, but you can imagine my reaction nonetheless.

The house we went to belonged to a guy who rents out rooms to foreigners, so I met a lot of people from countries like Belgium, Korea, Holland, Germany, England and Guatemala. I truly enjoy meeting the locals in situations like that- people that are near in age to me and have a different view of the world and how I see Guatemala. One local that I met had been driving his sister´s car earlier that evening and was pulled over by the police. They took everything from him- his watch, all his cash and his sister´s car. He was worried to leave the party because he thought that the police would ¨find¨ him again.

You know you have a great night of partying when you get home at 5:15am. You also know you may not have been smart about your responsibilties when you wake up still drunk at 7am and have to teach 2 classes of 40 rowdy girls English for 2 hours. On top of it all, it was my last day of teaching and my last day of español. Luckily, I was not hungover (I´m pretty sure there are no preservatives in the liquors here) I was just really tired.

Saying Goodbye to Las Niñas
The girls were so disappointed that it was my last day. When I got to my 2nd class, a group of girls called me over to their desks and put little star stickers on my temples. They are so sweet. I will miss them. I will miss their ¨Good morning Mees¨and the sweet little kisses on the cheek when I arrive and when I leave class.

The teachers in the girls' school rarely cooperated with or supported us English teachers and I believe that they resent us because 1.) we may be effective 2.) they are envious of our lifestyles, skills and even possesions such as clothing or 3.) the kids like us and actually have fun. I have so many frustrations with the school system but I came here and did what I wanted to do and I think (I tested them as a class) I was successful. That is the best I could hope for.

Tikal
This weekend a group of us went to Tikal, a village in a jungle near Mayan ruins in northern Guatemala. We were picked up at 4am on Saturday morning and shuttled to a small airport in Guatemala City. We flew into Flores and were taken to Tikal by our tour guide. He spoke very good English and gave a us a very in-depth history of the Mayan culture on our way to The Tikal Inn. We began our tour by 9am and were finished with the condensed tour by 1:30pm. We saw toucans, lots of monkeys, woodpeckers, lizards, butterflies and tons of ants carrying bright green leaves in a perfect lines across the hiking trails.

We ate lunch at the hotel and then I went back into the park to do a sketch. The jungle is crazy! On my way back from doing my sketch, I stood under a ¨herd¨of 8 monkeys passing over the trail in the trees above me. One had a baby monkey on its back. It was so amazing to watch these creatures use all 5 extremeties to swing to and from such flimsy tree branches. They were so graceful.

There was all kinds of wildlife but limited electricity in Tikal. Since the park is protected, there are no power lines and the electricity was produced soley by generators. To conserve energy, our hotel only had power between 7 and 10 am, 12:30 and 3pm and 6pm to 10pm. By about 7:30pm our group was ready to eat dinner and we decided to go next door to the Jaguar Inn for dinner. We knew that the electrcity there went off at 9pm. We were also used to really slow service, so I think we were all interested to know what would happen if the electricity went out before we were done eating. The wait staff didn´t seem too concerned or give any disclaimers or warnings, so we sat down in a group of 12 and ordered dinner and drinks.

The humidity and temperature in addition to the scarcity of lights made for an interesting dinner. There were flying ants everywhere- on our clothes, in our hair, on our drinks, everywhere. As the dinner progressed it just kept getting worse. Worse in that the flying ants got thicker and more aggressive and we started noticing that the beetles (frigging huge- at least and inch and a quarter in length and very crunchy) were also invading our personal space. Everyone was constantly swatting away ants until we could not even carry on a conversation because we were too busy protecting our food, skin and sanity.

It got worse when the lights went out. The ants were swarming the table and the beetles were all over underneath the tables and all over the floor of the restaurant. It was just like a horror movie. We were not even done eating when we couldn´t stand it any longer. We scurried to pay and left quickly with the 3 flashlights and headlamps that we had, stepping on the crunchy beetles the whole way.

Back at our hotel, we still had about 40 minutes of electricty left, so we had to decide quickly what we were to do about the party we were going to have in the dark. There was no "hotel bar" per se, so we bought a bottle of rum (that took 20 minutes- the servers had to calculate how many shots were in the bottle), a couple of bottles of Coca-Cola and bunch of beers from the restaurant. We had a party in the dark until the alcohol was gone and the candle was low, which was just a few hours. What a night.