Books read: 2
Dives: 4
Deepest Dive: 70ft
Certifications: 1
Sharks seen: 2
Times Weight belts lost: 2
Seviche eaten: a lot
Ears beaten: 1
Fingers scratched: 7
Shoulders burned: 4
Days with running water: 2.5
Days without running water: 2.5
Flat tires: 1



so we had about 5 days to get away and our original plan to go to St Lucia fell through due to some major procrastination. Costa Rica was the second choice and so we went.
We did the whole rent apartment/car - roam around thing, but this ain't Aruba.
People are very nice. very nice. and very chatty. our rental car guy took good 20 minutes explaining how the ignition key works and another 20 explaining how to get by a straight road to our town.
We got to our travel agents office at around 8 pm only to find it closed. We found a pharmacist around the corner who promptly went to fetch them (very nice).
Appartment was in a charming development (Flamingo something...) Each of the five little houses had a private pool in the middle. Everyone was very friendly and there were guards and cats running around.
Since we had no plan for the next 5 days our choices were either to find a place to get Denis certified or book volcano/monkey cable/4-wheelers, whichever works out.

We went to Deep Blue Diving, on recommendation from our travel brokr. The place is owned by a Deutch couple Frances and Oliver. Very very nice. For the next 2 days Denis was reading the book,
swimming in the pool and i chilled at 'home'.

Марта Кетро, http://marta-ketro.livejournal.com/160596.html

(девочковое, отношенческое)


Я всегда думала, что моя любимая «Сказка о Красных Зарослях», написанная ещё в 2002, - всего лишь милая стилизация, родившаяся после почтительного изучения дневников Сей Сёнагон, великой японаматери женских блогов. Но вот недавно поняла, что речь во всей этой истории об отношениях не столько куртуазных, сколько непростых. Взаимная симпатия двух молодых людей выразилась столь сложным образом, что привела к гибели обоих заинтересованных лиц. (Впрочем, Ромео и Джульетта тоже помещаются в эту формулу).
И я с печалью подумала, что не умею поддерживать непростые отношения. Ввязаться – ещё туда-сюда, в горячке чего не сделаешь, а вот длить всё это безобразие не смогу. Видимо, для непростых отношений нужны непростые люди, а я в этом смысле, как ситцевые трусы. О чём речь? Да ни о чём! Приведём примеры организации отношений Простыми и Непростыми людьми.
Дано.
Она любит его, он любит другую.
Что делают простые люди? Он уходит от неё и счастливо живёт с другой. Она плачет две недели или месяц, а потом перестаёт.
В итоге мы имеем счастливую пару и одну кратковременно несчастную женщину.
А непростые?
О. Я бы даже сказала «ОООО!» Непростой Он не может бросить на произвол судьбы женщину с разбитым сердцем, он в некотором роде ответственен за тех, кого приручил, что в просторечии означает «надо их трахать хотя бы иногда». Непростая Она не может смириться, и будет пытаться вернуть его любовь (имея в виду «давать»), пока не посинеет. Непростая Другая будет страдать и всё понимать. История затянется на годы.
В итоге мы имеем троих длительно несчастных людей.
Дано.
Она любит его, он к ней хорошо относится, но желает подсыпать и с другими женщинами тоже.
ПЛ: Она будет бить его сковородкой по голове, пока он не определится, чего больше хочет – её или по бабам. Если она воспитана чуть лучше, чем принято, то просто уйдёт и даст ему время подумать.
НЛ: Тонкие люди не могут сковородкой, вы что, а уйти они ссут опасаются, вдруг он сделает неправильный выбор. Поэтому ночами Она будет рыдать в подушку, а днём встречать Его с горькой и мужественной улыбкой, потому что всё понимает. Может даже будет дружить с его тёлками.
(Вообще, «всё понимать», это конёк НЛ, ПЛ в сложных случаях выбирают сковородку.)
Дано.
Она хочет секса, а он любви.
ПЛ: Сначала они просто трахаются, а потом он начинает закручивать гайки. Тогда она говорит, что не готова к серьёзным отношениям. Он обзывает её шлюхой и уходит. Или не обзывает и остаётся на её условиях.
НЛ: Да тоже, в общем, сначала трахаются. Но когда доходит до гаек, он начинает ныть и жаловаться, а она испытывает чувство вины и пытается как-то с ним жить. Даже если она ведёт себя вполне прилично, он в любой момент может применить секретное оружие «ты всё равно меня не любишь!», которому нельзя противопоставить ничего, кроме лжи «люблю-люблю». И она проигрывает, как только соврёт в первый раз. После этого он получает карт-бланш на «ты меня обманула!» и волен пуститься во все тяжкие. Он пьёт, потому что она его не любит. Он спит с другими женщинами, потому что она его не любит. Он её даже лупит чайником по голове – потому что она его не любит.
Дано.
Она соскучилась и завела любовника.
ПЛ: Она будет получать удовольствие. Испытывая законное чувство вины, возместит мужу моральный ущерб заботой, лаской и полировкой спила рогов. Если, не дай бог, влюбится, - бросит мужа, дура, и уйдёт к любовнику или «к себе». Счастье возможно, хотя и достигается сложным образом.
НЛ: Она будет сильно страдать. Постоянно рыдать во время секса с обоими своими партнёрами (со всеми своими партнёрами, точнее). Ненавидеть мужа за то, что он не уберёг их любовь, доведя её до греха. Угрызениями совести отравит жизнь любовнику. Уйдёт к нему только в том случае, если он женат – заявится прямо во время тихого семейного ужина, возможно, новогоднего, «не могу больше так», скажет, и с грохотом уронит на пороге два чемодана (из одного торчит кусочек голубого газового шарфика). Он не пошлёт её в жопу, не думайте, а скажет жене, что это его двоюродная сестра из Конотопа. Жена «всё поймёт», а как же.
Вариантов развития событий множество, но счастлив не будет никто.
Дано.
Да всё, что угодно: она хочет замуж, а он не хочет на ней жениться; у неё ребёнок от первого брака; у него плоскостопие… Во всех задачах возможна перемена половых ролей (в смысле, он хочет жениться; у неё плоскостопие…).
В любом случае, ПЛ ищут самые короткие этические пути и при виде дерьма не пытаются себя убедить, что это удачно замаскированное пирожное-картошка.
Квест НЛ бесконечно сложен и отягощён отклонениями от маршрута ради духовных исканий (кстати, почему поиск родственной души всегда сопряжён с беспорядочной сексуальной жизнью, для меня загадка). Несчастье всех участников заложено в условиях задачи.
Дано
Он и она любят друг друга и всё у них нормально.
ПЛ: Все довольны.
НЛ: Исключено.

С точки зрения человека, которому не доступен тонкий мир , мне кажется, что непростота питается ложью и жадностью.
«Мне не нравится, что мой партнёр не любит меня, пусть это называется «сложные отношения»».
«Я не хочу отказывать себе в сексе с кем попало, пусть это тоже называется «сложные отношения»».
«Меня тяготят серьёзные отношения – пусть будут «сложные»».
Пусть, кто ж против? Но без меня, без меня…

<a href="http://public.fotki.com/OLKA/my_so-called_life/travel/mexico_carribean/aruba/";>Aruba</a>

because a number of people asked me what where here are my two bits:

We stayed here: http://www.aruba-sunsetblvds.com/ - clean, neat . we stayed at the Ocean View Studio which is right across the road from the highway. the only down side was the pebbly beach in front (wear shoes!)
they also have bocacatalina studio which has a nice beach in front of it.

We windsurfed here: Aruba Boardsailing School

restaurants
le dome - belgian top notch $100 a person

The Flying Fishbone Restaurant - a must. excellent sea food. reserve for sunset time. you're seated at the beach, barefoot, in the water. when we were there there was an excellent jazz player (sachsophone) about $60-70 a person

restaurants are expensive but the food is awesome. definitely try different things.

we went ATVing in the national bark

do not go there on your own. very very rough terrain. book an ATV tour, a horse tour (they have the most beautiful horses i've seen, very well taken care of) or a dirt biking tour.

to begin with that area has no signs it's all dirt roads and mountains of rocks. beautiful yes. hard to navigate. and we saw 2 suv's stuck there. I don't suggest taking huge car/bus tours. we saw those. sidish kak selyodka i tebya tryasyot vzad peryod. i got sick just looking at them. horses, atvs are fun.

we went to see natural pool and natural bridge. the big bridge collapsed a year ago but the sites are beautiful. definitely go roam around there.

we didn't but we heard tha t scubadiving is awesome. definitely go. I didn't get a chance to but they say aruba has the best sites. I can totally believe that because we went snorkeling (which i'm not a big fan of) and that was excellent.

california light house is going to be 5 minutes from you and supposedly has a very nice restaurant (we didn't get to go there but were told) perfect for lunches.

when you come out of the airport you'll be given a nice book of places and things to do see. you won't be lost

go to downtown oranjestad for night life
Iguana Lounge
Cafe Bahia - salsa dancing

=]

letter before I got my luggage on Thursday at 2 am:

To Whom It May Concern:

I have recently traveled with British Airways from NYC to Scotland via Heathrow for a short getaway (5 days to be exact) with 4 companions (you will be getting their letters promptly).

Flight BA176 on Aug 22nd 7:30pm NYC to Heathrow
Flight BA1438 on Aug 23rd 9:10am Heathrow to Edinburgh

Flight BA 1455 on Aug 27th 5:15pm Edinburgh to Heathrow
Flight BA183 on Aug 27th 8:00pm Heathrow to NYC

In light of recent events concerning security and extreme measures imposed on British Airways as a result, I have called British Airways prior to my trip asking to rebook the flight either for a direct flight to Heathrow or the one, which will allow for a greater time between the connecting flights. The customer service representative reassured me that my concerns about delays and the baggage are unfounded and I should rest assured that all will be well. This is where my rest ended.

While sitting on the flight (BA1438) from Heathrow to Edinburgh We watched helplessly through the window as our bags were brought to the cargo bay scanned and driven away. It was not lost or late, but for whatever, unknown to us reason simply not loaded on to the plane. At Edinburgh after waiting a while for our luggage and realizing that 3 out of 4 bags were in fact missing we made our way to the BA baggage office where we were told somewhat politely by a very annoyed clerk (you’d think it was she who was missing her luggage after a 9 hour flight) that we should have our luggage that same evening. Considering my prior experience with BA customer service we probably should have been suspicious, however as you will see this trip has challenged our gullibility far and beyond and reasonable doubt time and time again. In addition to being told very politely that our bags will arrive that same night we were given a phone number, which we were told would provide us with information about the progress of our luggage.

Since we were flying out of New York on a Friday night after work and the temperature in New York was a very comfortable 80 degrees I came out of the Edinburgh airport sporting a lovely pair of high-heels, pants and a light shirt not quiet suitable for running around historic Edinburgh in a 60 degree weather. At this point none of us were worried since we sincerely believed that disgruntled woman at the baggage claim. So we caught a taxi and went to our apartment. Please notice the word apartment in the previous sentence since unlike hotels those do not provide you with basic necessities such as toothpaste, a toothbrush, hair brush, soap, shower cap, hair drier, and if you ask them politely they might even sell you a deodorant and wash your clothes for you. The place was a charming Georgian house on Regents place smack in the middle of all the lovely historical sites we were planning to visit, with all the cute little restaurants we were going to dine in and in the midst of all the terrifically expensive tourist shops.

After having a nap we decided venture into the city and have a look around. Let me tell you, the city is gorgeous, with wonderfully hilly winding streets paved in that old stone that is mandatory for any self-respecting historical part of the city. After about 20 minutes I noticed I couldn’t feel the tip of my nose and my fingers were numb, a thought occurred to me that I must be cold. For the next half an hour I was convincing myself that the 3 wonderful autumn coats were coming tonight and I should bear with it. When I realized that my feet were in pain since the sneakers were still in the luggage and my high heels are not the best shoe wear for those wonderfully paved streets mentioned before I became upset. I was cold and in pain and couldn’t care less about the beautiful Edinburgh and the fun festival we were suppose to enjoy or the beautiful weather, everyone was telling us, they had. So we stopped at the first store that was selling any kind of wear and I bought a pair of loathers, socks, giant ugly scarf to rap myself with (pictures are available on demand). (That’s a point where we realized the conversion rate of pound to a dollar is 1.8:1 and we’re not in Kansas anymore).

At around 6pm, never receiving the phone call from the BA regarding our luggage, we started calling the customer number to find out the status only to receive ‘All our operators are busy sorry for inconvenience please try again.’ And here is a point where after dialing the same number 30 times more we sensed something was not right and decided to get the basics such a toothbrush just in case the luggage will never arrive. Have you tried looking for a toothbrush in the middle of historical part of unknown city? Fun, but not as much as going to museum or having a nice dinner especially when that toothbrush costs twice than what the toothbrush you were suppose to have does. How about saline solution? My glasses were in the luggage and 9 hours of recycled air does wonders to your eyes. Yeah.

For the next 2 days we were touring the country: a little bit of St Andrew, a little bit of Loch ness, tad of Roslyn Chapel. We made many more unanswered phone calls to the number we were given. I bought a coat and undergarments and a top and another pair of socks. We have received our luggage at the end of the 3 day when our patience was running out and we were seriously considering spending a $100 (back and forth) on a taxi to go to the airport and yell at the very polite but very disgruntled woman.

To summarize items bought::

Socks
Shawl
Loafers
Towel
Top
Undergarments
Coat
Skin moisturizer
Mascara
Solution for contact lenses + case
Deodorant
Toothbrush
Toothpaste
Hair Brush
Shampoo
Soap
Sponge
Etc

Needless to say the above items in the total amount of 474 POUNDS wouldn’t have been bought if British Airways did their job.

In addition, I would also like to inform you that to top the cake British Airways managed to ‘loose’ all 4 of our luggage coming home. I had to buy items I can’t even claim now. It has arrived 4 days later, on August 31th at 2 a.m. in the morning! Did I mention that I’m disgusted?

Attc:
Original Receipts
Copy of the receipt with the date of the luggage was received.
Copies of boarding passes
Two Property Irregularity Reports

THE END?

++++++++++++++++++
Nope! This is what i wrote after I finally got my luggage:
To Whom It May Concern:

I have recently traveled with British Airways from NYC to Scotland via Heathrow for a short getaway with 4 companions.

Flight BA176 on Aug 22nd 7:30pm NYC to Heathrow
Flight BA1438 on Aug 23rd 9:10am Heathrow to Edinburgh

Flight BA 1455 on Aug 27th 5:15pm Edinburgh to Heathrow
Flight BA183 on Aug 27th 8:00pm Heathrow to NYC

I am writing this letter to express my extreme disgust with British Airlines customer and luggage service. I have never dealt with such inadequacy and lack of service given that I’ve had my share of lost luggage and delayed planes. British Airways managed not only ruin a vacation, but damage personal property beyond repair. I highly doubt I will be flying with your company again.

Upon arrival to Edinburgh airport three out of four of us did not receive our luggage. We were told the British Airways baggage claims office that we should receive our luggage that same night and given a number to call customer service to track our luggage. Not only were we not offered any vouchers to cover our necessities but the clerk was rude and unsympathic. We have received our luggage on the 3rd night of our 5 day trip. The customer service number was unreachable. We had to waste telephone minutes calling day in and day out which was expense and bothersome. Instead of enjoying our vacation we ran around looking for necessary items which were twice as expensive if we were to buy then in states and wouldn’t have been bought in the first place if our luggage arrived on time (see the itemized list below).

On the way back our flight from Edinburgh to Heathrow was delayed. We were told by the attendant not to worry because there will be a British Airways representative when we come out to assist us. Not a single representative from British Airways was there when we disembarked. We had to run from gate 1 to gate 4 in 20 minutes! When we arrived breathless an attendant at the gate told us that the plane is delayed and we didn’t have to run in the first place. Why wasn’t there a representative sent to the 3 flights the plane was waiting for telling people not to run???

When we arrived at JFK this time all 4 of our bags were missing. I have received my bag on Wednesday night at 2 am! On Thursday I have tried opening my bag only to find that my coat was stuck in the zipper. I didn’t pack it to be on top! When I finally managed to open the zipper I realized that the coat was soaking wet (pictures attached)! Most of my dry-clean-only clothes in the bag were soaking wet as if someone tipped it into the pool. Not only were they soaking wet but they stunk like they were sitting in that luggage for 3 days. All my friends’ bags were also wet and mishandled. The coat, I was told by my dry cleaners, is damaged beyond repair.

Attached please find
- the receipts in the amount of 474 pounds for the following items purchased during our 3day ordeal in Edinburgh: socks, shawl, loafers, towel, 2 tops, undergarments, coat, skin moisturizer, mascara, solution for contact lenses + case, deodorant, toothbrush, toothpaste, hair brush, shampoo, soap, sponge.
- dry cleaning receipt in the amount of $250 dollars ( for the coat and my other clothes) with a note from dry cleaners that the coat is irreparably damaged.
- a screen print with the Ya Ya coat found on line for the price of $650. NOT including taxes or shipping and handling.
- Original Receipts from the Edinburgh
- Copy of the receipt with the date of the luggage was received.
- VAT receipts which we never were able to claim due to the delayed flight.
- Copies of boarding passes
- Two Property Irregularity Reports

Sincerely,

Thursday
finish packing, working...
Caza
Friday
5 am fly to peru
2pm arrive at Lima, peru, hopefully with no delays with all the luggage intact
2pm - check in to hotel. hope to God there's a working shower and no bugs.
evening -till whateva
roam around historical part of Lima
Saturday
6am - flight out to Cuzco
10am arrive, check into hotel. hope to God there's a working shower and no bugs.
afternoon - roam around Cuzco, book the excursions for Sunday, get used to the height
Sunday
go on excursions booked on Saturday.
hopefully a horseback ride trip through sacred valley
otherwise roam around Cuzco, get used to the height
Monday
start the Inca hiking trip
Tuesday
continue the Inca hiking trip
Wednesday
still on the inca hiking trip
Thursday
arrive at Machu Pichu
take a railroad back to Cuzco
sleep, take a shower, go to the bathroom, sleep
Friday
8am take a plane back to Lima
rent a car
go to Ica passing through Paracas (hopefully)
check in to hotel- hope to god there's a working shower and no bugs
roam around Ica
Saturday
8am - go to Nazca
take a flight over the Nazca lines
go back to Lima
check into hotel - its a holiday inn so no bugs and the shower better be working.
Sunday
6am go back to New York
Monday
2am arrive at JFK
9am work
fun

when is a better time than on December 30th to read up on Paganini? Indeed.

http://www.brick.net/~jill/sound

http://www.paganini.com/nicolo/nicindex.htm
http://www.brick.net/~jill/music/paganini.html
http://inkpot.com/classical/paganini.html

Written by an Australian Dentist...


To Kill an American


You probably missed it in the rush of news last week, but there was actually a report that someone in Pakistan had published in a newspaper an offer of a reward to anyone who killed an American, any American.

So an Australian dentist wrote an editorial the following day to let everyone know what an American is .. so they would know when they found one. (Good one, mate!!!!)

" An American is English, or French, or Italian, Irish, German, Spanish, Polish, Russian or Greek. An American may also be Canadian, Mexican, African, Indian, Chinese, Japanese, Korean, Australian, Iranian, Asian, or Arab, or Pakistani or Afghan.

An American may also be a Comanche, Cherokee, Osage, Blackfoot, Navaho, Apache, Seminole or one of the many other tribes known as native Americans.

An American is Christian, or he could be Jewish, or Buddhist, or Muslim.
In fact, there are more Muslims in America than in Afghanistan . The only difference is that in America they are free to worship as each of them chooses.

An American is also free to believe in no religion. For that he will answer only to God, not to the government, or to armed thugs claiming to speak for the government and for God.

An American lives in the most prosperous land in the history of the world.
The root of that prosperity can be found in the Declaration of Independence , which recognizes the God given right of each person to the pursuit of happiness.

An American is generous. Americans have helped out just about every other nation in the world in their time of need, never asking a thing in return.

When Afghanistan was over-run by the Soviet army 20 years ago, Americans came with arms and supplies to enable the people to win back their country!

As of the morning of September 11, Americans had given more than any other nation to the poor in Afghanistan ... Americans welcome the best of everything...the best products, the best books, the best music, the best food, the best services. But they also welcome the least.

The national symbol of America, The Statue of Liberty , welcomes your tired and your poor, the wretched refuse of your teeming shores, the homeless, tempest tossed. These in fact are the people who built America.

Some of them were working in the Twin Towers the morning of September 11, 2001 earning a better life for their families. It's been told that the World Trade Center victims were from at least 30 different countries, cultures, and first languages, including those that aided and abetted the terrorists.

So you can try to kill an American if you must. Hitler did. So did General Tojo, and Stalin, and Mao Tse-Tung, and other blood-thirsty tyrants in the world. But, in doing so you would just be killing yourself. Because Americans are not a particular people from a particular place. They are the embodiment of the human spirit of freedom. Everyone who holds to that spirit, everywhere, is an American.

Please keep this going!
Pass this around the World ?
then pass it around again.
It says it all, for all of us

Sony Ericsson GC83 EDGE PC Card Modem

Как я машину откапывала (или сказочка про Мир, Дружба, Жевачка)...

ну всё конечно началось в суботу -- лёгкий снег начался на удивление без опозданий ровно в 2 часа как и было предсказано местным гидромедцентром. Сумашедшие соседи стали убирать снег около 3ёх. Я знала что занятие это бесполезное, очищеные дорожки ровно через 15 минут возвращались в своё сугробное состояние, но стадное чуство солидарности взяло верх и прогуляв пса по снежным завалинам я вывалила с лопатой на улицу. Покидав снег для приличия, я с чуством выполненого долга я вернулась домой что бы вывалив кучу снега из карманов и сапогов потратить ешё пол часа на вылизивание прихожей. Часов в 8 приехала домой мама. Выехала она с работы 3:30.
Проснулась в воскресенье от ломоты в спине. Ветер и белая пелена за окном не вызывали особого желания вылезать из постели. Какое то время я просто наблюдала очередной фильм по ЧБО из под двух одеял, переодически проваливаясь в дремоту. На улице в перерывах между завываний ветра стало слышаться жужание моторчика. Сделав вывод что Карлсоны в снегопад не летают (моторчик может заглохнуть, или пропеллер со снегом не справится), я решила всё таки проснуться и пойти оценить обстановку. Мама уже стояла у окна и уныло наблюдала как соседские работники забрасывают жужащей снегоочищалкой нашу машину (прально нечего парковаться у чужих домов). Поняв что осуждающее торчание в окне явно не привлекает их внимание, набросив на пижаму пару кофт, шаровары, обмотавшись по уши шарфом, водрузив на макушку шапочку с помпоном, напялив резиновые сапоги в розовое сердечко и вооружившись лопатой я пошла с ними ругаться. Как не странно, мой вид колобка с помпоном и лопатой не произвёл на работников нужного впечатления, и призвав на помощь хладнокровие и красноречие я язвительно поинтересовалась сколько ума надо что бы повернуть их чёртову машинку в другую сторону и валить снег в сторону дома а не на мой автомобиль. Они переглянулись между собой пожав плечами и сообщили что по английски не говорят (Мексикозами оказались). Обозвав их идиотами (что из прошлого опыта я знаю понимают все нации и народы) и выразительно постучав себе по голове стала сбрасывать снег со своей машины на их только что очищеную и обсыпаную солью дорожку. Уже через пару бросков я поняла что дело это бесполезное. Машина была серьёзно закопана по самые окна. Через некоторое время вылезла мама правильно решив что одной мне не справиться, стали мы с ней вдвоём ковыряться, Мексикозы стоят, смотрят, перешёптываются. Тут на радость Мексиканцам на удивление, вылез один сосед с лопатой, подошёл. Видно решил что нашему женскому коллективу явно не хватает руководителя. Посмотрел подумал тоже копать начал. Потом вылез ешё один сосед, тоже подошёл, оценил. Они немного пообсуждали лучше её спереди или сзади откапывать сошлись на том что мы с мамой всё таки правы -- сзади легче. Тут Мексикозам видно стыдно стало взяли они своё чучело и откопали нам ту сторону которую сами же и закопали. Откопав ешё наш драйвай и соседский, все пошли к нам домой коньяк пить с моим днё-вареньемским тортом, а Мексикозам не дали!

I mean having a b*tch fit while standing on a Wall Street bus stop in 20 degree weather is just marvelous don’t get me wrong, and I’m not going to say anything anyone haven’t said before, but if I ever get a psychologist I’m sure he’d advise me to vent out on paper ;).

Soooo, I moved to SI only 4 years ago from Brooklyn , and it’s a terrific place (lotsa parking spaces =)).
My x1 bus stop coming from manhattan was only a sweet half a block away and the closest bus stops going to manhattan only across the street half a block in either direction. What a dream, I though. A 30-minute commute at 3 bucks a ride for mere $120 a month….

A year has passed and my dream turned into a nightmare. The everwise (read: A//holes) MTA officials decided to cancel the two closest bus stops going to manhattan and the very sweet very close bus stop coming from manhattan.
I have since cancelled my gym membership due to the everyday jog routine I am forced to perform in high heels while logging a laptop on my poor back (hmm curious if I send the MTA a bill from my chiropractor they would honor it…. Or the shoe-guy bill for all the broken heels???? Whatcha think? ;)) . Now, I have to give credit to the very few and thus most wonderful bus drivers who see my suicidal attempts to cross the Hylan in front of them while docking cars and who stop out of pity realizing that there is no way in hell I’m making it to the bus stop. I also want to thank MTA because now I actually know my neighbors and all the respiratory problems they have. I’m young I can jog in snow, sleet and rain and then get on the bus and still crack a joke at the bus driver… unfortunately there are women older than I am who I see every morning loosing this cruel battle (sob)…
Of course at the same time they raise prices so I now pay $160 (minus that gym membership ;)).

Christmas night – 20 degrees outside , subzero temperatures…. 2 buses roll by without stopping!!!! Packed… can’t feel feet, hands, had a brain freeze, took a car service for $40 + tip + verezanno. (ohhh by the way ANYONE complaining about x17 OR x10 ARE YOU KIDDING ME??? On any given night there are 2-3 x17 for every x1 that rolls by, same goes for x10 and they are ALWAYS empty)

New Years – heard about the ‘Saturday schedule’ (my tushi)…. Drove in… marvelous commute….

I am sure I can ramble on and on about never getting a seat (downtown), or waiting for hours, or slow bus-drivers (don’t you just LOOOOVE those? ;)), or the bus-drivers that won’t give you a break and stop closer to your house at 10 pm when it’s pouring rain… It is probably the same bus drivers that will stand on the red light and won’t open the doors for you because it’s against their regulations….

I just fail to understand who are the morons who attempt to ‘regulate’ this? Why am I sitting here considering driving in to avoid all the necessary chaos in the morning and the frustrating evenings. Why the ferry closes at 11(?) and the buses stop going at 2am on Sunday morning and I have no way of getting home for less than $50????
WHHHHYYYY??? (whining , stumping my foot, breaking the heel, shaking heel in the air in rage….)

Пишу безграмотно, пардон за ошибки

Вернулась на работу. Манаджер поинтересовался как я отдохнула, изобразив на лице восторг сообщила что всё шикарно: "Готова к труду и обороне."

А отдохнула я так что едя по Белту облегчённо вздохнула что всё хорошо что хорошо кончается... Ну конечно всё не так уж было плохо, но Россия как извесно страна идиотов и каждую мою поездку она это доказывает.

О Аерофлоте и российских аэропортах:

"Девушек" стюардесс наверное подбирают по уровню стервозности, скорости ползанья по коридорам и тупости... Одна умная блядинка пыталась заклеить дверь в испорченный туалет используя Post-its. Старалась минут 15 пока из туалета не вытиснулся бардовый мужчина напрочь всё содрав.

Питер (Пулково) привязались к весу чемоданов. У нас было ровно 80 кг как и написано на Аэрофлот website. Оказывается на билетах написано мааааленькими буквами 64 (на двоих). Ругались пол часа пришлось платить.
Самолёт в Москву -- типичный кукурузник в 4 сиденья удивительно как он не развалился при взлёте/посадке.

Москва (Шереметьево по дороге в НУ) шманали чемоданы. Привязались к сувенирным спичкам. Стояли с мамой вытаскивали спички из коробков. После паспортного контроля прошли в зал ожидания рейса, там оказалось не было кресел, народ так и расположился на полу: иностранцы, дети, старушки... туалета тоже небыло, а стены были расклеены плакатами "Москва -- кандидат олимпийский город 2012" угу щас.

Музыкальная пауза: "Аааа мне леттаааать, а мнееее летаааттть"

О Москве:

В каждом городе конечно есть свои плюсы и минусы, например когда я зашла в компютерный магазин и попросила у продавца если у них случайно не найдётся переходника (для розеток), что было явной чушью, он порывшись в ящике стола вытащил, дал мне и отказался взять плату. Мелочь, а приятно...

О Москве и тряпках:
Одеваются не много абсурдно: цены наши, зарплаты ихние. Ну и как можно воспринимать ихних девиц как нормальных людей если они бегают по сугробам и колдобинам в единственных на этот сезон сапогах на 4х инчевых шпильках долларов этак за 300?

Музыкальная пауза: "Дорогая моя столица, дорогая моя..."

О Москве и запахах:

Казалось бы на московских полках уже давно появились одни из важнейших по моему мнению изобретений ХХ века -- деодорант и освежители рта (жвачки, ополаскиватели итд итп). Но, в толпе пepeoдически пахнёт то кофейным перегаром, то вчерашними футболками...
А несмотря на то что Путин собирается всё таки подписать, отвергнутое Бушем Kyoto protocol, в Москве дышать нечем. Во всяком случае мне, может конечно у меня заострённый нюх, но бензином ваняло так что укачивало и на улице.

Музыкальная пауза: "На запаааахххх..."

So I’m quitting smoking. Why? God knows. Bored I guess. The thought was brooding in my head not long, a week may be. But, as with everything else I decide, if I wanted it to realize I had to start immediately. The week before KSP was not good. What would be the point of quitting for 3 days only to relapse out of boredom. Will I start smoking again? May be.

... it's horrific... there's just no words for it... there is however a mass of information on it out there... scarce and most of it is repetitive, but like any other tragedy it sucks you in, consumes your thoughts until even more tragic resolution takes place... it is being compared to ‘nord-ost’... ghmmm... a life is a life, but a life of a child? it's a different game with different set of rules… how do you keep your ‘we don’t negotiate with terrorists’ policy when the lives of children are at stake? How do you succumb to terrorist’s demands, because the lives of children are at stake, thus sanctioning future terrorist actions against those same children? How do you carry out a rescue mission in the setting created by those animals without sacrificing any more innocent lives?.. What kills is the feeling of helplessness and doom… You know the ending before hand... Russia is terrible at dealing with crisis. They proved it time and time again. The sinking of Kursk, the Nord-Ost and now this. They are terrible due to high unaccountability of government officials, spectacular finger-pointing techniques and extreme levels of corruption. If this was to happen in US losses would be minimal and countries would be bombed the hell out of.

For more <a href=”http://www.logicandsanity.com/archives/2004/09/school_seized_i_1.html#more”>logicandsanity</a>

<a href=” http://www.nytimes.com/2004/09/01/international/europe/01CND-RUSS.html?hp”> NYTIMES </a>

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...middle of reading Emma... finished Bridget Jones Diary... very sweet and charming... proved to be useful when talking to users in England, learned how to say Cheers! at the end of the conversation... was trying to figure out how tall this girl is (she's trying to loose 7 pounds (from 126 to 119))...must be 5'5 -- 5'6 also, i thought they weight in Kg in Europe, did they actually have to edit the book from Metric to English system???... America really should catch on to the rest of the world and finally switch... what nuisance... back to Bridget Jones... don't know what the girlfriend is complaining about... secretly wish for her social life (and i'm 10 years her younger)...
rambling...
Went to see the Stepfords Wives this week with coworkers... was told that the original story was massacred... duuuh standart Hollywood practice (i could've told you that without reading the book) note to self: put on reading list... otherwise it was delightful, i would compare it to the 'death becomes her' except that a number of funny punch lines in Stepfords Wives is significantly reduced and the story line doesn't add up. Overwise it is perfectly cute. (Although don't know what Nicole Kidman and Glen Close are doing in this flop)
yeah i think that's about it...
except they killed that poor kidnapped Johnson... animals. Trying not think about it.

figured noone reads those journals anywho might as well write in it =P (they really should provide more functionality in this section)

...so, i went to buy myself a book... I wanted something substantial, something i haven't read before and something that didn't fall into the category of air-plane fiction or sci-fi. I didn't have a particular author in mind and after asking a friend or two (who once or twice made sure their book savy was known), I decided to go on a whim and see if anything pops out at me. It didn't. I pensively roamed from one shelf to the next skimming the titles. Nothing. I tried very hard not to judge a book by it's cover and not be attracted by the bright covers or enthusiastic quotes from NY times. At somepoint I remembered an anthology that we used in my English class at college, what an awesome collection of masterpieces it was. Then I couldn't read it all (school, work). So I asked if they sold anthologies. They did and it costed 80 dollars. I decided that i'll manage without it (shoes are more important) At last i gave in. I picked up a copy of 'bridget jones diary' an exact air-plane book i was trying to avoid and a couple of old-time classic which I read before, but loved and new i'll like them again. I took Balzac, I read him in Russian forth and back and forth again. I took Emma, i figured i love the movie might as well read the book....
Thus again, my selection of literature was backed by popular culture and stuff I read in childhood. Bringing me to conclusion that my kids will be edumacated the hell out of.

появились первые китайские тапочки на работе... какая безвкусица...
завтра тоже их надену

first chinese sleepers reappeared at work... how tasteless...
i think i'll wear them tommorow