European Vacation 2001: The flight.

Aug. 2, 2001

Iceland Air

20:00 -> plane to Reykjavik is late will board @ 20:20

22:45 -> served dinner. stuffed shells & spinach, salad, bread, choc. cake. bland but good to fill stomach

I was raring to get this vacation going. Nervous, because of flying. Anxious to see Scandinavia. Was dying to see Iceland. Interesting that I noted the airline food. Iceland Air was not a major airline. I think that it is somewhat a budget way to travel to Europe. The best thing is that they have direct flights from BWI. No need to stop at Newark or JFK for an international flight; it’s just one airport to Europe.

European Vacation 2001: A Sea Tour!

In August 2001, my mom, younger brother, aunt, cousin and I took a cruise through the Baltic Sea during which I kept a short journal of the daily events. I am gonna blog a post for each entry in the log which usually was a short account of where we were and what we did. Hopefully, I won’t put any weird commentaries from me like I would do if I kept a diary. Here’s the itinery:

  1. Copenhagen, Denmark

  2. Stockholm, Sweden

  3. Helsinki, Finland

  4. St. Petersburg, Russia

  5. Tallinn, Estonia

  6. Gdansk, Poland

  7. Oslo, Norway

This was one of my favorite trips even though cruising is not my cup of tea. If I can figure out how to post pictures you may see some of what we saw. Hopefully, though this will give you, the reader, motivation to see Europe.

Faster Pussycat Kill Kill

Slate has an article I think my cousin Angelie should read. Her cats, before they were put in a kennel outside, constantly peed all over my mom’s basement. It still reeks of cat urine. Her cats have me really on the verge. I feel like poisoning them with some of the pool chemicals. Cats suck.

Internet Jukebox

Around 1998, when I was toiling away at a web design firm (if they still exist), I had brought up an idea that was ahead of its time. See, one of my co-workers was all about downloading mp3. He always seemed to have a connection to the ftp/warez site with tons of mp3 for the taking, this before the advent of Napster. My idea was to combine the internet with music on demand, an Internet Jukebox. Radical at the time!

I always thought people would want to hear a tune (which could be bouncing in there head), surf to a site, select it, and stream it to his computer all for a quarter. Yet my idea always died when I thought, “Who would pay a quarter to listen to music once when you can download it free?” With the success of iTunes, it seems that my idea really was way ahead of its time.

Next time I’ll run with my ideas.

The Iron Sickle!!

Once again Slate has a terrific article on the legacy of Ronald Reagan. He helped usher in the era of great Russian wrestling villians. How can anyone forget the epic battles between Dusty Rhodes and Nakita Koloff. The American Dream versus the commie ruskie. This was truly Reagan’s legacy.

Surprise!

Check this site out. I am rooting for the suspension of elections. My parents emigrated from the Philippines here to get away from Marcos’s policies which eventually turned into martial law. This may happen just yet.

Lakers v Pistons

I am not an NBA fan, but I seem to end up watching their playoffs every year. I am a sucker for the underdog. Of course, since it is the pretty boy Lakers in the finals it makes it easier to root for the Pistons. I believe that Gary Payton and Karl Malone should be denied the chance to ever be called champions. Come on Pistons!

House Furnishings

Since moving into my own place last year, I have been searching for furniture. I have yet to find something I really like. My style seems to be retro/mid-century modern, which is making a come back.

Designs Within Reach – not really cheap like they imply, but a sense of style that is slightly affordable.

Room And Board – if I could I would buy all my furniture from here.

Sick

Started as a tickle in my throat. Then sniffles. Then feeling of tiredness. Headache. Somewhat nauseous. Went home early from work. Should I go in tomorrow?