European Vacation 2001: The flight continued…

broderic on June 18, 2004

Aug. 3, 2001

0:30? -> I don’t know the time. Walked around the plane. Drunks in the back. When do we land? listening to the oldies channel. Better than really bad Euro film, “Russian Doll.” Naked Mariah Carey on the screen?

??? 2 hours to go. The kids in the front ringing the stewardess button. Hot stewardesses. Blonde!

??? Greenland on the left and the sun’s coming up. That’s so cool. The kids up front finally losing their energy and going to sleep. Waiting for “start me up.”

It was a six hour flight to Iceland where we had a lay over before continuing onto Copenhagen, Denmark. We left around 8:30 pm, which would have put us in Iceland around 2:30 am EDT or about 6:30 in the morning. Smokers and drinkers were in the back. The movie was atrocious and must have catered to the Europeans on the flight, so I didn’t bother to watch it. Greenland was a darker shade in the dark shadows of night. I think there was no moon during the flight. Greenland loomed rather large in the plane’s window or was it just the Artic Ocean? The onboard radio station had only one good channel of music and also, I believe, a comedy channel. I remember listening to Neil Young’s “The needle and the damage done” at least 10 times during the trip if not more. Made me want to learn the song on my guitar. Can’t wait to see Iceland’s airport. I want to see land soon.

European Vacation 2001: The flight.

broderic on June 17, 2004

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!

broderic on June 17, 2004

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

broderic on June 16, 2004

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

broderic on June 16, 2004

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!!

broderic on June 12, 2004

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!

broderic on June 9, 2004

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

broderic on June 9, 2004

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

broderic on June 9, 2004

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.