Last week I was in Barcelona for our school's 'trip week', known to others as "Week without Walls". I was one of the chaperones that took the 9th graders to visit this amazing city and I do like the city.
While there, we spent an afternoon at the beach. The kids and the chaperones needed a break from all the culture and so we headed down to the beach for some R&R. The kids walked further down the beach than the two chaperones and we sat and watched them from a distance.
We picked a spot that was close enough yet far enough and it just so happens that this young lady was about 10 meters away from us (chaperones). She caught my eye and over the course of the next few hours, I fell in love with her.
I never talked to her, never got any closer than 10 meters, never heard her speak, never saw the color of her eyes. She was just a student with a wonderful body that I let my imagination run rampant with. And no, I didn't imagine anything sexual - I fell in love with her much like the character Curly did in "City Slickers". Or perhaps it was more the idea of what she could be that I fell in love with. In any case, I was sad to see her leave the beach that afternoon but I was happy to have seen her, even if from a distance.
Now before my readers get all charged up about me being a pervert, her being topless had nothing to do with it. Truth be told, when she put her top on, she looked even better. And I before anyone rants on me about only looking at the body this woman has and placing too much on emphasis on it, please re-read this entry. My feelings for this woman are nothing to do with this acutal person, just the idea of what she could be. This particular woman just happens to be a visual personification of what I see in my mind as being a true love. Beauty comes in many shapes and forms, this just happens to be one of them.
So I'd like you to meet my true love, whomever she is. As soon as I find her, I'll be sure to introduce you two.
Tuesday, September 27, 2005
Sunday, September 25, 2005
canadian aurora
A severe solar storm resulted in this vibrant display of the northern lights (aurora borealis) over several Vancouver Island peaks. Mountains in this image include Mount Walker, Malaspina Peak, Mount Alava, Stevens Peak, Leighton Peak and Conuma Peak.
Or at least that is what the description on flickr said it was...
Or at least that is what the description on flickr said it was...
gracie
I was browsing the flickr site (which means I was procrastinating from doing my laundry) and found this adorable picture. I am not one to use the word 'cute' very often, but this definitely is.
found language
I survived yet another "Week without Walls" or as our school puts it - "Trip Week". The last 2 years my destination was the Ardennes forest in Belgium where the 7th graders learned about overcoming their fears and all that other garbage. In the middle of nowhere, these kids have a hard time getting into trouble.
On the other hand, this year I was sent to Barcelona with the 9th grade (14 year olds). The change of venue is normal, teachers normally switch out every other year. It allows one chaperone to be the veteran and 'know' a little about the destination while the other learns the ropes. This year that didn't happen. The other chaperone and I had never been to Barcelona before and we were both walking into this blind. By the way, Barcelona is a great city and I highly recommend it to any European traveller.
I was picked because 2 decades ago I live in Mexico City for 2 1/2 years. My director evidently thought that this meant that I had an excellent grasp on the Spanish language (reminder - Barcelona is in Catalan - meaning they speak Catalonian first, Spanish second). Umm, yeah - I remember Spanish... Yeah. Really. *note excessive sarcasm*
So we left for Barcelona on Monday the 19th with 10 kids and 2 adults. One speaks broken Dutch and the other is generally believed to speak a few words of Spanish. God help us if the kids get into trouble with La Policia.
And I was pleasantly surprised when put on the spot, my Spanish came back. Not a lot, but some. It was nice to understand some of the conversations that were taking place around me, to be able to comprehend the announcements on the PA system, and to be able to communicate basic ideas to the people whom I was talking with. It didn't happen right away, it took a day and a half, but I did enjoy the sensation of having a clue. I've been somewhat clueless since living in Holland because my Dutch is horrible. And to be honest, I haven't been working on my Dutch like I should (hence why I only understand the times that TV shows are on Net5). But having a clue felt nice and besides being in an English speaking country, it was the most comfortable I have been since leaving the US two years ago.
So perhaps I will change my plans for next year and think of making it a Spanish-speaking country. The pay may not be what it could be if I were to be in China or Saudi, but I may be a bit more comfortable, and maybe that's something I could go for at this point in my life.
On the other hand, this year I was sent to Barcelona with the 9th grade (14 year olds). The change of venue is normal, teachers normally switch out every other year. It allows one chaperone to be the veteran and 'know' a little about the destination while the other learns the ropes. This year that didn't happen. The other chaperone and I had never been to Barcelona before and we were both walking into this blind. By the way, Barcelona is a great city and I highly recommend it to any European traveller.
I was picked because 2 decades ago I live in Mexico City for 2 1/2 years. My director evidently thought that this meant that I had an excellent grasp on the Spanish language (reminder - Barcelona is in Catalan - meaning they speak Catalonian first, Spanish second). Umm, yeah - I remember Spanish... Yeah. Really. *note excessive sarcasm*
So we left for Barcelona on Monday the 19th with 10 kids and 2 adults. One speaks broken Dutch and the other is generally believed to speak a few words of Spanish. God help us if the kids get into trouble with La Policia.
And I was pleasantly surprised when put on the spot, my Spanish came back. Not a lot, but some. It was nice to understand some of the conversations that were taking place around me, to be able to comprehend the announcements on the PA system, and to be able to communicate basic ideas to the people whom I was talking with. It didn't happen right away, it took a day and a half, but I did enjoy the sensation of having a clue. I've been somewhat clueless since living in Holland because my Dutch is horrible. And to be honest, I haven't been working on my Dutch like I should (hence why I only understand the times that TV shows are on Net5). But having a clue felt nice and besides being in an English speaking country, it was the most comfortable I have been since leaving the US two years ago.
So perhaps I will change my plans for next year and think of making it a Spanish-speaking country. The pay may not be what it could be if I were to be in China or Saudi, but I may be a bit more comfortable, and maybe that's something I could go for at this point in my life.
Friday, September 09, 2005
flipper
Last weekend was the World Harbor Days in Rotterdam and I made my way down to see what was going on. While I was strolling about, I spied a Dutch submarine tied up to the pier. Not one to miss out on an opportunity to compare a US nuclear sub to another country's diesel electric, I arranged for a tour.
The boat was nice to see and it brought back some old memories (they weren't good or bad, they were just memories). As I was leaving, I saw a crusty old sailor (about my age which is old in the eyes of the junior enlisted on board) that I started talking to. I happened to have a pair of my dolphins (submarine qualification badge) from when I was in the US Navy and asked if he would swap with me. He said that he already had a pair and asked why I wanted a pair of the Dutch ones. I replied that I just wanted to swap as sailors tend to do. This kind man then took his dolphins (called 'flipper' in Dutch - I jest you not!) and gave them to me for mine. I graciously accepted them and went on my way home, smiling like a little kid who just got his top Christmas request.
Many thanks to whomever that salty old sailor was, I appreciate your generosity.
The boat was nice to see and it brought back some old memories (they weren't good or bad, they were just memories). As I was leaving, I saw a crusty old sailor (about my age which is old in the eyes of the junior enlisted on board) that I started talking to. I happened to have a pair of my dolphins (submarine qualification badge) from when I was in the US Navy and asked if he would swap with me. He said that he already had a pair and asked why I wanted a pair of the Dutch ones. I replied that I just wanted to swap as sailors tend to do. This kind man then took his dolphins (called 'flipper' in Dutch - I jest you not!) and gave them to me for mine. I graciously accepted them and went on my way home, smiling like a little kid who just got his top Christmas request.
Many thanks to whomever that salty old sailor was, I appreciate your generosity.
Thursday, September 01, 2005
question the leader
Ok, so I am at the point of another political rant. You've been forewarned.
Hurricane Katrina has brought to light a number of policies that the Bush Administration has put into effect and now they are coming back to bite the US in the you-know-where. I'm not in the country and with the limited exposure I get to US media (CNN International) I can see the tremendous tragedy that has and is continuing to unfold in places like New Orleans and Baton Rouge. After talking with my parents the other day, I found that the deluge of rain was miniscule in comparison to the amount of media coverage this event is receiving. Yet with the limited amount of knowledge that I am getting, I can see the problems.
There are so many problems here that you can't even cover them all, so I'll hit on the major ones that stick out for me at the moment.
First - troops in Iraq. Bush went off and invaded Iraq despite what the international community suggested; he had a 'slam dunk'. Well, we all know the quagmire that is Iraq and 30 months later, it doesn't look much better. But what does that have to do with the hurricane? In an attempt to put more troops where they were needed, members of the National Guard were put on active duty and sent over to Iraq to help maintain order. Well guess what? The National Guardsmen from Louisiana and other southern states are over there rather than being at home. Now that the state needs them, they are half a world away. Hmmm, good deployment of troops there Dubya. And why shouldn't I hold him responsible? He is the Commander in Chief of the Armed Forces.
Second - energy policy. Bush came out yesterday and delivered a strong message to the world - we are gluttons. The US supply of oil isn't enough to meet our own needs and now that it is temporarily shut down, we REALLY need help from outside. GW "asked" Saudi Arabia to boost its oil production to meet the needs of the US during this crisis. Read between the lines here folks - give us a lot of cheap oil because we support the house of Saud and without our support, the monarchy could fall. The energy policy that has been in place over the last 20 years has been atrocious and Bush has only exacerbated the problem with some of his policies. A sidebar if I may...
In the early 1980s, the country was just getting over the last oil crisis of the 70s and that concern was on the minds of the major auto manufacturers in the US. They knew that they were going to need to spend billions of dollars in R&D to develop the next generation of cars. They could've spent it on developing 'alternative' sources such as hydrogen-fuel cells but chose not to. Rather they spent it on making cars slightly more fuel efficient, perpetuating the fossil fuel obsession. Why? The Reagan Administration is in power at the time. George Bush (Sr.) is the VP and has a large investment in the oil industry (as does his son). Bush Sr. pushes through economic incentives to keep the auto industry focused on fossil fuel engines. With this carrot being dangled, the decision was made. As the years go by, the cars get bigger and heavier for some bizarre reason. Since when does the average family NEED an off-road vehicle with a monster engine to drive around town to shop and take kids to soccer practice? But back to the energy policy.
Bush's rejection of the Kyoto Accord and subsequent tax breaks for SUV drivers has further propelled the dependence on foreign oil. Americans must get oil from other source because they don't want to change their way of life. What should be done is to take a page from the Europeans and drive smaller cars. At least the dollar spent on petrol would go farther. And why not do as the Dutch do and tax the absolute crap out of petrol and vehicles on the road? Maybe then more money could be raised for things that really matter, like education, eliminating poverty, and healthcare.
What really needs to happen is for America to take a good look at its leader(s) and start thinking of the future. Unfortunately, Bush was elected on the premise of fear (terrorism) and maintenance of the status quo. But as anyone can tell you, looking to maintain the present only leads to disaster in the future. Preparing for the future will make the present a better place.
So America, where do we want to go from here? Do we want to continue to be the world leader? Is military might the end-all and be-all of being a leader? Or is being a leader more akin to developing technology to reduce pollution, finding cures for diseases, and feeding the hungry? Being a leader isn't easy. Ask any leader - even Bush - its hard to do. With great power comes great responsibility, isn't it time we started being responsible?
Hurricane Katrina has brought to light a number of policies that the Bush Administration has put into effect and now they are coming back to bite the US in the you-know-where. I'm not in the country and with the limited exposure I get to US media (CNN International) I can see the tremendous tragedy that has and is continuing to unfold in places like New Orleans and Baton Rouge. After talking with my parents the other day, I found that the deluge of rain was miniscule in comparison to the amount of media coverage this event is receiving. Yet with the limited amount of knowledge that I am getting, I can see the problems.
There are so many problems here that you can't even cover them all, so I'll hit on the major ones that stick out for me at the moment.
First - troops in Iraq. Bush went off and invaded Iraq despite what the international community suggested; he had a 'slam dunk'. Well, we all know the quagmire that is Iraq and 30 months later, it doesn't look much better. But what does that have to do with the hurricane? In an attempt to put more troops where they were needed, members of the National Guard were put on active duty and sent over to Iraq to help maintain order. Well guess what? The National Guardsmen from Louisiana and other southern states are over there rather than being at home. Now that the state needs them, they are half a world away. Hmmm, good deployment of troops there Dubya. And why shouldn't I hold him responsible? He is the Commander in Chief of the Armed Forces.
Second - energy policy. Bush came out yesterday and delivered a strong message to the world - we are gluttons. The US supply of oil isn't enough to meet our own needs and now that it is temporarily shut down, we REALLY need help from outside. GW "asked" Saudi Arabia to boost its oil production to meet the needs of the US during this crisis. Read between the lines here folks - give us a lot of cheap oil because we support the house of Saud and without our support, the monarchy could fall. The energy policy that has been in place over the last 20 years has been atrocious and Bush has only exacerbated the problem with some of his policies. A sidebar if I may...
In the early 1980s, the country was just getting over the last oil crisis of the 70s and that concern was on the minds of the major auto manufacturers in the US. They knew that they were going to need to spend billions of dollars in R&D to develop the next generation of cars. They could've spent it on developing 'alternative' sources such as hydrogen-fuel cells but chose not to. Rather they spent it on making cars slightly more fuel efficient, perpetuating the fossil fuel obsession. Why? The Reagan Administration is in power at the time. George Bush (Sr.) is the VP and has a large investment in the oil industry (as does his son). Bush Sr. pushes through economic incentives to keep the auto industry focused on fossil fuel engines. With this carrot being dangled, the decision was made. As the years go by, the cars get bigger and heavier for some bizarre reason. Since when does the average family NEED an off-road vehicle with a monster engine to drive around town to shop and take kids to soccer practice? But back to the energy policy.
Bush's rejection of the Kyoto Accord and subsequent tax breaks for SUV drivers has further propelled the dependence on foreign oil. Americans must get oil from other source because they don't want to change their way of life. What should be done is to take a page from the Europeans and drive smaller cars. At least the dollar spent on petrol would go farther. And why not do as the Dutch do and tax the absolute crap out of petrol and vehicles on the road? Maybe then more money could be raised for things that really matter, like education, eliminating poverty, and healthcare.
What really needs to happen is for America to take a good look at its leader(s) and start thinking of the future. Unfortunately, Bush was elected on the premise of fear (terrorism) and maintenance of the status quo. But as anyone can tell you, looking to maintain the present only leads to disaster in the future. Preparing for the future will make the present a better place.
So America, where do we want to go from here? Do we want to continue to be the world leader? Is military might the end-all and be-all of being a leader? Or is being a leader more akin to developing technology to reduce pollution, finding cures for diseases, and feeding the hungry? Being a leader isn't easy. Ask any leader - even Bush - its hard to do. With great power comes great responsibility, isn't it time we started being responsible?
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