Viva la Espana!

Back from Spain-- and what a trip. I have many a photo (nearly 200) which I'm diligently organizing so I can post a slideshow (because I'm certain that you all want to see 200 photos from my trip to Spain). I even have some video. For a girl who's never had a digital camera, I did pretty well... and this camera rocks. I was able to take detailed photos from over 100 feet away (gargoyles were a favorite), and the color was magnificent. What was I thinking sticking with film? This was one of my favorites: the Columbus Column at the foot of La Rambla. I was a little obsessed with it because allegedly it's pointing to Columbus Circle in New York. Barcelona's Columbus was also in a circle. Oh, the wonders never cease.

On another note, you'll be happy to know that I'm still a magnet for thieves (and I failed to mention my penchant for getting robbed on international trips to my friend, Tiff, who joined me in Barcelona. Sorry, Tiff). Fortunately he didn't get away with anything except our sense of security (thanks to Tiff who threw down). But let this serve as a forewarning for anyone who decides that it might be a good idea to go on an international trip with me...

Gone Fishing

Errr... for Miro, Gaudi and Picasso...

Okay, poor parallel, but the title was appealing.

In any case, due to impending adventures abroad with my friend, Tiff, blogging will be limited (if at all), as I learned my lesson about traveling with my computer on my last international trip (yeah, yeah, still not over it). But I promise to take lots of pictures (okay, I promise to take pictures... okay, I'll take at least one) with my new, handy-dandy digital camera that I finally succumbed to buying (and effectively moving into the 21st century. I know; it's about time. But my 10 year old Daewoo t.v. is still kicking...).

Hasta luego!

Bar-the-lona

I've been attempting to refresh my very far removed high school Spanish in anticipation of my trip to Barcelona next week. Yes, I realize that growing up in Southern California, I learned Latin American Spanish, which is very different from Spain-Spanish. And Barcelona is its own beast with "Catalan" or Castillian Spanish thrown in... which, by my amateur observation, is a unique combination of French-like Spanish... "buenos dias" is "bon dia," and the like. Not to mention all "c" sounds being pronounced as a "th"-- so phrases like "como se dice" sounds like "thomo se dee-th-ay." Huh?! I may be fighting a losing battle... but my guidebooks assure that most Barcelonians are bilingual and speak both versions of Spanish... as though that is going to help me.

But in effort to try to trigger something resembling Spanish from the depths of my tired brain, I downloaded a podcast from iTunes entitled "Coffee Break Spanish" that has about 20 lessons that teaches you basic conversation such as ordering in a restaurant and asking directions-- plus it goes over "Spain" pronunciation vs. "Latin American" pronunciation.

The best thing about the podcast? It's from Scotland, so the teachers have a very thick brogue. I can't understand their English half the time, which sends me into fits of giggles, so I'm not really retaining much... but I'm enjoying myself immensely. I do however, understand their Spanish better than the English (even funnier), so maybe it is helping...

Getting Hitched

No, of course not me, you silly people... but apparently, many a NYC-er (or, at least, an intrepid entrepreneur) believes that it's possible for even the most prolific commitment-phobes to make the big leap towards monogamy.

This new-fangled take on match.com (in my estimation, at least) is hitching people through good old fashioned NYC yellow cabs. You reserve the time, pick the gender and wah-lah! Instant (and limited) dating for the ultimate dating-impaired... errr... weary soul.

The dating world is certainly evolving... I think for me it would depend on JFK or La Guardia. JFK is kind of a big commitment...

What are your thoughts? Yay or nay?

Font Size

Why is the font so small? It looks completely normal on my mac but when I was viewing this from my sister's PC in January, it looked teeny tiny... which might explain why people don't spend a lot of time on this blog-- it must be super annoying to read this tiny type...

Is this better?

How about this?

Telluride

It has not gone unnoticed that I've failed to blog about my most recent excursion-- Telluride, Colorado. Sure, it was beautiful, and snowy, but in terms of trip-trips (and this being a business trip) it was all just a little blah... mainly because I worked the entire time and had to put out fires right and left and deal with the craziness that generally these trips allow for me to escape from... plus it was a little too hoity-toity for my taste. That, combined with executive-level tantrums (of the two-year old, fall on the floor and beat your fists and legs variety) and entitlement attitude of co-workers who shouldn't have even the fleeting-most thought of being entitled, made for a headache of a trip. Oh-- and did I mention my luggage was lost for THREE DAYS (#$&#^RGIUY#^!!! UNITED AIRLINES!!!)? It wasn't Jackson Hole, that's for sure.

But that being said, the schmancy cabin that I got to share with K and the D's was awesome (despite not being able to spend much time in it), and as always, it was fantastic to spend time with my friends from NL Wilson (aka my saving grace) who, no matter what chaotic craziness we were dealing with at a given time, were cool, calm and collected-- and always made me laugh.

Ummm... and I did get to meet Jonny Moseley... who is very cute.

Next up: Connecticut, Barcelona, Flor-ee-dah. All in three weeks. Blechk.

Marriage

"Why do people get married?" he asked.

"It's not passion," she answered. "It's because we need a witness to our lives. There's a billion people in the planet and, I mean, what does one life really mean? But in a marriage, you're promising to care about everything-- the good things, the bad things, the terrible things, the mundane things... all of it, all the time, everyday. You're saying your life will not go unnoticed, because I will notice it; your life will not go unwitnessed, because I will be your witness."

~Susan Sarandon in "Shall We Dance"

Reason 501 Why I Love Apple

Apple computer, that is.

By now, you all know the sordid details around my last trip to Canada. And thanks to the trusty Vancouver Police Department, Apple Canada and my dear Daves, I finally this week, got my stolen computer BACK! Take THAT you Canadian identity fraud thiefs.

Because the computer was password protected, I took it into the Apple Store's genius bar to see what could be done. Not only were they easily able to break into it and download tons of data on the culprit, they were also able to salvage mostly everything from the hard drive (that the police had said was wiped). So I got photos, documents (like my journal!) and other essentials back. HURRAY!

So now they have it to repair the hard drive damage (darn Canadians dropped it; it has a healthy dent in the right side as well, which they'll repair) and really wipe the hard drive to restore it to original manufacturer condition. And since it's still within the 3-year AppleCare warranty, I don't have to pay for it. Yeehaw.

Now if I could only figure out how to get the stupid sticker that the creeps stuck on the cover off...

Telluride, Here I Come

Off on another adventure, this time of the annual work ski trip variety (because honestly? when is my travel ever not work-related?). Sounds like it would be fun, huh? It would be if it didn't mean me working my butt off for the next six days in a row from 6 a.m. until after midnight (yes, kids-- that includes Saturday and Sunday). Most years I get at least half a day to relax and do something somewhat fun (last year I learned how to snowboard, for instance). But this year I have "added responsibility" so I will actually be in meetings all day Sunday (which was usually my day to have fun before chaos ensued). UGH. Who signed up for this?

The real kicker was that today, in the midst of the usual stupidity that I have to suffer through as part of my deal with the devil (aka working for the man), I had a last-minute meeting with our head of sales, the HOST of this event mind you, who has still not finished his presentation that he's literally had about four months to prepare (ummm... and did I mention that I have actually yet to see ANY of the speakers presentations? But that's a whole other story...). At 4:30 p.m., the day before I leave to go out to finalize everything before our guests arrive, I'm on the phone with him telling him what he needs to say for all of his 26 slides, and he finally says, "you know, can you just write the talking points for me?" So, when I agree in absolute astonishment-- quite frankly, I was so taken aback that he had the gall to ask me to do it, I was agreeing before I knew what I was saying (and really, it's a double-edged sword-- I could let him take a nose dive off a cliff, but ultimately that makes my job a hell of a lot harder), he says, "... oh, and can you get it to me tonight, because I really want to review this presentation on the plane so I'm PREPARED. Please join me in a big old:

W-T-F?!?!?

Too Bad, So Sad...

Seems that yours truly is no longer a California-girl...

You Are 8% California

You are a bogus Californian. Go back to the East Coast.

How California Are You?

(Thanks for the link, Beth!)