Passing Afternoon

Can't Wrap This

2009-12-25T09:03:00-05:00

Dennis

Eve

2009-12-24T11:11:58-05:00

There is no one at work today; this place is like an abandoned warehouse. Really, it's not like I have anything better to do, but I resent being here.

I have to buy stockings and candy from Dylan's with which to stuff said stockings during my lunch break. I stole the idea from a coworker which is why I'm doing it at the last minute. Otherwise, I've done all of my Christmas shopping/wrapping/shipping. I'm still in shock that I completed everything so early (for me) and that everyone will actually get their presents on time.

I'm spending Christmas with my mom tomorrow during the day and then The Big O at night. I didn't do Thanksgiving with my mom because of the trip to Barcelona - a fact that she ruefully recounted. This was first Thanksgiving that we haven't spend together since coming to the US 24 years ago and though she tried to hide how upset it made her, I could tell she was genuinely distressed. I think she expected this to happen sooner or later but I don't think she could really prepare herself for it. So, yeah, I'll be with my mom during the day and then head over to The Big O's at some point.

Merry Christmas to all who celebrate it, Season's Fury to those who don't.

Sleep

2009-12-19T05:52:59-05:00

One unintended consequence of losing weight is that I don't need nearly as much sleep anymore. Before, I had to get at least 7 hours, preferably 8, per night. This never ever happened so I was always tired and miserable. Now, I can get by on 5-6 hours per night. It's a good thing, too, because I went to bed at midnight and woke up around 5 and if I fall back asleep, it won't be for another hour or so.

(As an aside, I'm typing this post using the Typepad app for iPhone and it is simply atrocious. I can't select or create categories, even though I should be able to, the "save draft" feature doesn't work, and the viewable area where I type the post is half an inch. It's kind if pointless to be on the cutting edge of technology if you're going to half-ass it, Typepad.)

Barcelona

2009-12-07T19:03:43-05:00

Milton, John, and I went to Barcelona and Amsterdam for John's 30th birthday. Naturally, we had a great time and quickly decided we have to go back in the summer so we can go to the beach and Ibiza.

Pics and more after the jump.

Milton and John started the trip a few days earlier than me - on a Thursday - and I followed on Saturday. When I arrived Sunday morning, I had a carefully laid out plan to take the train just as Milton and John had Friday, however that plan was quickly cast aside as I was too tired to figure out Spain's train system. Actually, I did try to find the train at first, but I ended up at the train to Madrid instead of Barcelona's Metro. I hopped in a cab thinking, "How much could it possibly be?" Oh, Dennis, Dennis, Dennis. When will you learn? The ride was €27, which was ~$40. I blew $40 on a 15 minutes cab ride. Yep.

We didn't really get anything accomplished that first day. We walked around Las Ramblas while I played with the zoom lens I rented.

Milton & John

Yes, it's real.

Look at that wide angle lens magics!

On my second day, we headed to La Sagrada Familia. I had read a little about the cathedral, but nothing prepared me for the grandeur of the real thing, and it's not even close to being completed. There was so much construction going on that it was hard to believe that the cathedral was started in 1882. I was so awestruck that I'm tempted to call my experience a religious one.

From a distance.

The entrance to the cathedral is currently the Passion Facade, which is very stark since, you know, it's depicting the crucifiction of Christ. Once completed, the entrance wil be the Glory Facade, which celebrate's Christ and the joy of creation on his birth. Naturally, I felt more drawn to the Passion Facade. I'm sure that doesn't mean anything.

Passion Facade.

Again.

And again.

Glory Facade.

Once more.

The interior of the cathedral is meant to evoke a forrest. That evocation is completely lost in these pics, but if you strain your imagination hard enough, I think you can see it.'

IMAGINE HARDER!

The next day, we took a bus tour around the city. It sucked. It sucked hard. The weather was chilly, which is to be expected in November, but the audio tour was almost never in sync with our location. Also, our view of whatever we were siteseeing was usually obstructed which, again, is to be expected, but everything combined to ensure the experience was not fun.

We ended up at Montjuïc Castle, which offered a spectacular panoramic view of Barcelona. Those pics came out OK, but it's hard to make out any detail in resized pics and the original files are huge.

John immediately headed for the weapon. The wide angle lens gave him a hunchback that I find humorous. I don't think he sees the humor in the pic.

Someone's a grumpypuss because I stole his jacket.

On our final day in Barcelona, we did a lot of shopping. OK, I did a lot of shopping. But, we also found time to make it to the Font Màgica. Let me tell you, taking these pictures with the Gorrilapod was an exercise in patience, but worth it, for the most part.

Our last night and we decided to end the trip on a high note, which meant partying until 9AM. The club we went to closed at 6, and we were headed back to our hotel when we met Lee and Michelle leaving the club. Through the course of the morning, we found out that Michelle was the lead singer of S'Express, a UK band from the 80s. Thanks to the miracle of YouTube, Lee showed us this music video. Michelle pretended to be faux outraged, but she was lapping up the attention. I loved Michelle.

We eventually made it back to our hotel around 9 and made the mistake of thinking we could catch a quick catnap before heading to the airport and catching our flight at noon. I woke up at 10:30, checked out at 11, and spent the next 20 minutes wondering why our cabdriver bothered to obey silly things like red lights and pedestrians. We made it, though by sheer luck.

FIN

Black Mona Lisa

2009-10-08T11:22:46-04:00

When I use my iPod, I usually have it on shuffle and listen to individual songs instead of albums. For the past month or so, I've been listening to albums and most of the time doing so does nothing to change my opinion of an artist or album. Once in a while, though, I've come across a great album, like Lamya's Learning from Falling that's more than a collection of songs that were thrown together for one reason or another. Lamya is best known for Empires and while I like that track (and absolutely love the remixes), Black Mona Lisa is my favorite song. I freely admit my love of this song is because of an emotional connection rather than any qualitative artistic merit. My favorite verse is

I used to be a connoisseur Of hate, self hate, paternal hate Hate cum gratis I connected every kind Sipping it like red wine The insecurity was mine The ties that bind were My design

Though now I can see why I connected with this song, back in 2002 when the album was a bit more... clueless. Isn't it strange how we can be blind to the obvious? Sadly, Lamya died earlier this year of a heart attack at the age of 35. Maria Lawson covered Black Mona Lisa but I don't care for it since Lawson's arrangement didn't add anything to the original.

Paris: Gay Pride, Briefly

2009-06-30T21:23:22-04:00

Dennis

Paris

2009-06-30T21:18:25-04:00

Dennis

Bonjour, Bitches!

2009-06-19T14:49:37-04:00

I'm going to Paris next week! As with so much in my life, this trip was not planned until the very last minute.I have much packing to do, but hopefully I can get that done over the weekend. As a bonus, I'll be in Paris during Pride. I'm so excited... I'm so exciteeeed!... I'm so... SCARED!

The License

2009-05-29T15:31:33-04:00

Via everywhere.

2009-05-29T15:28:51-04:00

Looks like my uncle is OK. (I actually thought the wrong one was visiting Honduras.) Overall, there doesn't seem to be that much damage from the earthquake. I'm still trying to get more info.