Friday, September 30, 2005

Bridge and Tunnel

Tonight I leave Venice (and the cute owner of the B&B I have been staying at...so cute)...I have to be up at around 530am so I can catch my expensive water taxi to the airport for a flight that sadly leaves at 720am. Oh well such is life...I will be returning in full Eurotrash regalia though (leather coat, Ducati t-shirt, Italian jeans, Italian boots...maybe Italian underwear if I can find some...)

Ah...the adventure is over and I'm somewhat sad...like The Terminator said...I'll be back...

Sent wirelessly via BlackBerry from T-Mobile.

Wednesday, September 28, 2005

Stairway to Heaven

Today I did the most amazing thing I have ever done in my life....something that I have thought since I was a little child but never really had the opportunity to do and never thought that I would really ever do...just a childhood dream that remarkably came true today...

I went inside the Leaning Tower of Pisa and walked all the way to the top...

It was totally worth the 17 euro I paid and I probably would have paid more if I had known it would have been that magnificent and spectacular. The entire climb I was grinning like a child knowing that I was going up inside this remarkable structure and that I was experiencing something that very few get to do. They take maybe 30 people up at a time and it's absolutely one of the most amazing things that I have ever done.

Can you tell that I got a rush out of that one???

I leave tomorrow for Venice so this is my last chance to snag some time in an Internet cafe (which are EVERYWHERE here) before I head out tomorrow. I must repack teh bag and start making my laundry list of things that I have bought for the customs agents. Four bottles of wine and one bottle of grappa are already on the list as well as the leather coat I just bought in San Lorenzo Square...sigh...I'm such a clothes whore...or leather whore....or just a whore...

Let's not go into the shoes...

Sunday, September 25, 2005

La Passagiata

I don't know where exactly I am in Firenze (have to be Italian you know) but after a dinner at the Itlain equivalent of a "greasy spoon" I began to wander through the city and barely knowing how to get back to my B&B. I turned a corner and was hit by a wall of music from a quartet playing many classical standards and I was forced to stop and listen to them. It was one of those picture postcard moments that you want to hold onto forever becuase the feeling and sensation you get from it are too much to let go...at least for now...

Thankfully I am taking them home with me...in CD form at least...something to remember my first true night alone in Italy..

Sent wirelessly via BlackBerry from T-Mobile.

Friday, September 23, 2005

Viva Italia...the story continues...

Wine tasting (five glasses in about 90 minutes)

Olive oil tasting

One round of practice on a figure skating spin with the Italian guide

A clear sky with more stars out than you can count

One last day of hiking (over 50 in total by the end of the trip)

One more week in Italy to go...

The adventure continues...

Sent wirelessly via BlackBerry from T-Mobile.

Tuesday, September 20, 2005

Viva Italia!

I am not coming back...I'm going to get an apartment here and live forever...

Sent wirelessly via BlackBerry from T-Mobile.

Monday, September 19, 2005

I'm in love...

Day 3 in Italy and I may not want to come back... :)

Sent wirelessly via BlackBerry from T-Mobile.

Friday, September 16, 2005

Leaving on a jet plane

Oh, kiss me and smile for me
Tell me that you'll wait for me
Hold me like you'll never let me go

'Cause I'm leaving on a jet plane
I don't know when I'll be back again
Oh, babe, I hate to go

And I'm leaving on a jet plane
I don't know when I'll be back again
Oh, babe, I hate to go

-- "Leaving on a Jet Plane" by Peter, Paul, and Mary

One caveat....I don't hate to go!

Tuesday, September 13, 2005

Gotta Love the Europeans



Sometimes they know how to phrase things better than Americans...taken from Snopes.com and yes, this is a real picture and not doctored at all...

Written in the stars

Courtesy of my good friend AJ...

Your Solar Return will take place in NYC, on Sept 16 at 1:24pm. (I assume your flight does not leave until night.)

You're kicking the year off right w/ a trip, because the Sun and Mercury are conjunct in the ninth house of Travel, Higher Learning, and Foreign Place, People, and Languages. Couple that with Sag Rising, and that Sag rules the ninth house, and you have a good year for taking up a new subject or visitng new places or learning a foreign language.

Jupiter, which also rules the ninth, is in the tenth house of Career, so look for some lucky opportunities to pop up, which might be related to where you're going, what you're learning. The Moon and Uranus conjunct in the third mean your emotions might be a bit of a roller coaster and might surprise people. You've got them in Pisces, so you could be more psychic, intuitive, or feel a greater need to help others.

Your Solar Return is almost at the Full Moon, which you'll have it over you in Italy the next night! The third house rules siblings (does one of your parents have a younger partner who could provide one?) and, more likely applicable here, communications. Writing, speaking, which tie back into the learning a foreign language or seeing new faces and places.

Venus in the 11th house of Friends and Social Groups says you'll be a social butterfly and quite enjoy it. Mars in the fifth house of Romance, Pregnancy, and Gambling says romance could be hot and sexual, and if you fuck a woman, you'll get her pregnant. ;-)

The only downer is Pluto in the first house of Self. You could be moody at times, pondering deep psychological issues. But Pluto wants to help you get over them, so ultimately, it's all for the good. It will also make you intense and insightful.

And then in regards to someone that I am kinda sorta pursuing....

Hmm, nothing screams, "Run away!" or "Your One True Love." This will be what you make of it. Nice stuff include his Pluto conjunct your Sun, showing a karmic connection. But it's also close to your Mars, meaning there can be some earth-shaking fighting...and love-making.

His Uranus conjuncts your Moon-Pluto conjunction in Libra means you find him exciting and liberating, and he might liberate you to a new home. (BTW, the next six weeks or so are big for you and home, w/ your stacked natal 4th house being transited by lots of planets in Virgo and Libra. You'll probably stay in touch w/ home base while you're away in Europe, and maybe spruce up your pad and/or entertain there.)

His Mars in Aquarius trine your Mercury in Libra adds feisty communications, and his Venus in Gem trine your Merc adds loving words. This can work, but it'll b/c you want it to.

You're in the mood for romance, and maybe even feeling a little more pimp daddy than one would expect from a Virgo. In your Progressed Chart, planets are shifting from fourth house of home and family and mother into fifth house of romance, pregnancy, father, and brain children and other big projects. The next two months look to be big as the Progressed Moon conjuncts the Prog Vertex.

Monday, September 12, 2005

He's making a list....and checking it twice....

To Do List

With take-off scheduled for this Friday night, I have quite a bit still to do or acquire and I'm more than a little surprised:

1) Do laundry so I have clean clothes to wear Dropped off laundry this morning and borrow the jumbo sized suitcase from the roomies Packed and ready to go

2) Purchase a few protein bars to tide me over on the plane and train ride Bought four at Duane Reade last night....got a couple more just in case

3) Purchase Italian-English Dictionary Did this on my lunch hour...do you know how hard it is to find a small Italian to English dictionary with the word "fuck" in it??? and plane/train reading screw this...we'll check out the bookcase to see what needs a good re-read

4) Purchase SPF Sunscreen just in case it's VERY sunny and my Irish skin can't take it Took forever to find but I got it

5) Purchase tickets to go up into the Leaning Tower of Pisa Done this morning on the last possible day I could purchase tix for the date I could go there

6) Look into getting another large memory card for my digital camera Trading memory cards with my boss for the trip

7) Get some batteries so I can brush up on my Italian language CDs on the plane and train ride over I'm going to try to load them into my MP3 player instead.

8) Hire a male escort to "massage" me after the hiking tour I kid...I kid...

9) Investigate internet cafes in Florence to see if I can upload pics to clear out space on the memory card if needed They exist but will get some help from the B&B to point me in the right direction

10) Figure out how to get from the bus station in Venice to the train station Ugh....this part won't be easy....

11) Make sure my Blackberry will work over in Italy It will work. Won't be cheap but it will work...

12) Clean my bedroom I've started Well...maybe I'll finish....

13) Print out all of my B&B confirmations, directions, and phone numbers Check and double check. I'm ready to go!

14) Check into the lube/condoms thing that Brad told me about in a comment I have enough in supply now to last me...unless I turn into a raging whore while I'm gone....

15) See if I need to get some more Tylenol PM to help me out at night after a long hike 100 caplets is enough right???

16) Refill my diabetes prescriptions and make sure I take enough lancets and test strips for the glucose monitor Yep....all done....

17) Enjoy myself while I'm gone.....

Thursday, September 08, 2005

Totally Useless Quiz Day

Meatball Pizza

Unusual and uncompromising.
You're usually the first to discover a new trend.
You appreciate a good meal and good company.
You're an interesting blend of traditional and modern.


What Your Underwear Says About You

You've washed your underwear so many times, you don't know what color it used to be.

You're not afraid to lay around resting your hand in your pants.

Note, I was wearing teal boxers at the time








Your Birthdate: September 17

Your birth on the 17th day of the month suggests that you are very lucky financially, because this date indicates a solid business sense.

Although you are probably very honest and ethical, this birthday enables you to be shrewd and successful in the world of business and commercial enterprise.

You have excellent organizational, managerial, and administrative capabilities enabling you to handle large projects and significant amounts of money with relative ease.



You are ambitious and highly goal-oriented, although you may be better at starting projects than you are at finishing them.

A sensitivity in your nature, often repressed below the surface of awareness, makes it hard to give or receive affection.



Well that sucks

In a Past Life...

You Were: An Albino Assassin.

Where You Lived: Germany.

How You Died: Typhoid fever.



Your IQ Is 130

Your Logical Intelligence is Genius
Your Verbal Intelligence is Genius
Your Mathematical Intelligence is Genius
Your General Knowledge is Above Average



You Passed the US Citizenship Test

Congratulations - you got 10 out of 10 correct!


Your Kissing Purity Score: 34% Pure

You're not one to kiss and tell...

But word is, you kiss pretty well.






You are








You're an Expert Kisser


You're a kissing pro, but it's all about quality and not quantity
You've perfected your kissing technique and can knock anyone's socks off
And you're adaptable, giving each partner what they crave
When it comes down to it, your kisses are truly unforgettable

You're a Romantic Kisser


For you, kissing is all about feeling the romance
You love to kiss under the stars or by the sea
The perfect kiss involves the perfect mood
It's pretty common for kisses to sweep you off your feet



Your Summer Ride is a Beetle Convertible

Fun, funky, and a little bit euro.
You love your summers to be full of style and sun!






Your Life Path Number Is 11



11





Your life path is greatly associated with spiritual awareness.

As one of the two master numbers, the 11 yields understanding and knowledge beyond the grasp of others.

The attitude toward life of those possessing this Life Path is somewhat extreme; extremely intuitive, avant-garde, idealistic, visionary, and cultured.

These extremes make you an interesting, if unusual person, with much to offer society.



The Life Path 11 person is deep-thinking, and you are no doubt interested in understanding many of life's mysteries and more intriguing facets.

Your inventive mind and broad-minded views will permit you to succeed in life in any number of ventures.

You can best serve society, however, in those endeavors utilizing your skills of counseling and guidance.

Much of your idealism is people oriented and quite humanitarian in nature.

You expect a great deal of yourself and of those to whom you are close.



On the negative side, there is a lot of nervous tension associated with the 11 life path, and you can be a difficult person to deal with because of this.

For this reason, relationships, at times, can be difficult.

This is a Life Path that seems to feature broad mood swings between the elation and depression.

You are likely to have trouble making decisions and getting your life in gear, so to speak.

There is a tendency for the 11 to harbor feelings of uneasiness, and dissatisfaction with accomplishments and personal progress in life.



Your grandiose schemes usually make sense, but you can get off the track and they can be very impractical.

You have a very distinct side that lacks common sense, and you are quite often unable to distinguish between fantasy and reality.

In this regard, you are perhaps more of a dreamer than a doer.

When you do get on target, your ideas seem to have been inspired on high.

Perhaps you are not a leader, but you are a visionary and a very talented idea person.








You Are From Saturn



You're steady, organizes, and determined to achieve your dreams.
You tend to play it conservative, going by the rules (at least the practical ones).
You'll likely reach the top. And when you do, you'll be honorable and responsible.
Focus on happiness. Don't let your goals distract you from fun!
Don't be too set in your ways, and you'll be more of a success than you ever dreamed of.








You Should Try Street Luge





With speeds of up to 70 mph,
Skateboarding laying down is not as tame as it seems.








You Are a Newborn Soul





You are tolerant, accepting, and willing to give anyone a chance.
On the flip side, you're easy to read and easily influenced by others.
You have a fresh perspective on life, and you can be very creative.
Noconformist and nontraditional, you've never met anyone who's like you.

Inventive and artistic, you like to be a trendsetter.
You have an upbeat spirit and you like almost everything.
You make friends easily and often have long standing friendships.
Implusive and trusting, you fall in love a little too easily.

Souls you are most compatible with: Bright Star Soul and Dreaming Soul








You Are the Very Gay Bert and Ernie!





Two grown puppets living together, sleeping in the same room?
They've even got coordinating striped shirts!


Wednesday, September 07, 2005

The Subway Adventures of 646Guy

Comment made by 646Guy as he leaves the subway where a young couple hae been arguing since they got on the train:

"Tonight you two are either gonna break up or have the best make up sex ever. But do the rest of the people on the train a favor and decide now so you'll just shut up."

Sent wirelessly via BlackBerry from T-Mobile.

Tuesday, September 06, 2005

Under the Tuscan Sun



I haven't had a REAL vacation since 2000. Before that it was 1995. I need this vacation. I need it to recharge my batteries and figure out what the hell I am doing with my life. I need it so I can get away from everything and enjoy the world. I need it so I can come back to NYC full focused on what I need to do in my life. I need it just so I can get away and not have to deal with some of the people currently in my life.

I need it for me. I need to do something for me rather than doing stuff for other people. I need to give back to myself because, as of late, I've been giving too much of myself away to others.

Nine days and then two weeks abroad.

I need this.

Monday, September 05, 2005

Filed under "Odd IM Conversations"

646Guy: I’m changing my name.

 

646Guy:  in preparation for doing my own late night talk show


Momof3:
  to?????


Momof3:
  ok the name change, and what late night talk show??  i better be your really odd sidekick


646Guy:
  The name of the show is "On the Edge"


646Guy:
  and my new name is Kumquat Jones


646Guy:
  so the full name of the show is "On the Edge with Kumquat Jones"


Momof3:
  thank God!!  I was terrified you would go for the obvious and boring like   Vanilla Sherbert


Momof3:
  or johnny Carson


646Guy:
  and if you're going to be my sidekick you're name will be either be Poodle McClure or

Tootsie Sassafrass


Momof3:
  oooo ooooo


Momof3:
  can i call you KUM??? for short


646Guy:
  no you cannot


Momof3:
  i like tootsie


Momof3:
  how about kummie


646Guy:
  and I get to ask all of the really difficult, hard questions to celebrities that Letterman, Leno, and Oprah are too scared to ask


646Guy:
  like, Leona Helmsley........why so mean?


Momof3:
  ok like..fr instance


Momof3:
  or tom cruise are you really that much of a asshole or is this just all a really stoooopid publicity stunt


646Guy:
  Tom Cruise....you claim that psychiatry is voodoo....then what do you call Scientology.....a nice game of Tiddlywinks?


646Guy:
  Oooh ooooh


646Guy:
  Tom Cruise.....when you have sex with Katie Holmes....do you pretend she's Vin Diesel or Keanu Reeves


Momof3:
  THIS is why i LOVE YOU!


646Guy:
  Tina Turner......you claim that your ex husband Ike Turner physically and verbally abused you....


646Guy:
  just admit it.....it was all hot S&M roleplay action


Momof3:
  or donald trump how long have you had ALL the mirros in your house covered?


646Guy:
  DOnald Trump.....did you know your hair looks like it was done by a dog groomer


646Guy:
  do you consider it to be more of a poodle hairdo.....or llasa apso


Momof3:
  oh now kumquat!!  we must be careful


Momof3:
  we do NOT want to offend


Momof3:
  the dog lovers


646Guy:
  Tootsie.....when it's your show you can do what you want but this.....


646Guy:
  THIS



646Guy:  THIS


646Guy:
  This is ON THE EDGE WITH KUMQUAT JONES!!!


Momof3:
  well, i was worried about all those dog people.....to have theire little darlings likened to donald trmp, now i only say this because we want our dear kumquat ON the edge, not pused over

it
646Guy:
  THat's why I'm ON the edge


646Guy:
  right there


646Guy:
  dangling on it


646Guy:
  DANGING, I say Tootsie


646Guy:
  I"M DANGLING ON THE EDGE!


646Guy:
  Oh yeah....


646Guy:
  I'm on it


646Guy:
  Oh yeah....


646Guy:
  Edge


Momof3:
  Oh kumquat, what are you dangling by


646Guy:
  EDGE

Momof3:
  and how are you holding on


646Guy:
  Well it's better than you that just sits there like bibb lettuce


646Guy:
  that's right


646Guy:
  I said BIBB LETTUCE!!!!


646Guy:
  Oh yeah....


Momof3:
  oh please, i am much more like PARSLEY....a completely useless garnish...yet

somehow with out it, your plate looks lonely


646Guy:
  and it tastes like shit


646Guy:
  bibb lettuce


Momof3:
  well dear kumquat, lets' just say i'm an aquired taste


646Guy:
  Tootsie, let's just say I'm going to be a proper Kumquat Jones and not answer that


646Guy:
  so let's welcome my next guest.....


646Guy:
  she won 2 emmys for her work on Cheers and a Tony Award for her performance in the Broadway revival of Chicago


646Guy:
  AND


646Guy:
  She's a total fucking raving bitch who thinks she's the hottest thing on the face of the planet when her career really hasn't taken off


646Guy:
  ladies and gentlemen.......Bebe Neuwirth!!!!!


646Guy:  Bebe.....you're a total fucking bitch and not that many people like you.


646Guy:
  Oh....there's no question....just a statement


Momof3:
  oooo no question...very edgy


Momof3:
  wait, i don't have to be the band leader ......i'm jsut idiot sidekick who laughs at everything your brilliance says, right


646Guy:
  absolutely


646Guy:
  and you agree with me explicity


Momof3:
  well, of course


646Guy:
  and even better....you have another alter ego


Momof3:
  your edgieness


646Guy:
  Danger Girl1


646Guy:
  Girl! I mean


646Guy:
  and you get to do all of the fun wacky stunts


646Guy:
  like throw a pie at the president


Momof3:  mmmmm can't i throw a banana at hillary
clinton and sing HOLLA BACK girl to her instead


646Guy:  no


646Guy:  because it's a KUMQUAT pie


646Guy:  and you would have to throw kumquats


Momof3:  i'm not sure i want to be tackled by secret service....no wait never mind i would love to tdo that


646Guyi'll make sure they're all hot


Momof3:  because danger girl is just a little slutty


646Guy:  I am so not going to go there


Momof3:  tootsie is a perfect lady


646Guy:  danger girl is a whore


646Guy:  Danger Girl goes to kidnap our next guest.....here is he VIN DIESEL!!!


Momof3:  i have sooo always wanted my own evil twin


646GuyVin....you have a very odd accent that until recently I wasn't able to really place


646Guy:  Then I was in the gay district in New York and I heard it everywhere


646Guy:  It was amazing


646Guy:  What do you think abotu that/


Momof3:  our vin??? say it ain't so?  damn you get all the really built ones


646Guy:  yes but Danger Girl gets to bring them all in


Momof3:  thank you dear, tootsie is horrified, but danger girl is such a happy camper


646Guyhehehehehe


646Guy:  well tootsie


646Guy:  I am heading off to bed


Momof3:  see ya sweetie...oh no, you need a really classic sign off line kumquat


646Guy:  yes I do

 

646Guy:  That's all we have for tonight.  Join Tootsie and me here tomorrow when my guests will be Senator JOhn McCain, the reigning Miss Universe, and Buffy St. Marie.....


646Guy:  This is Kumquat Jones telling you to take it to the edge


646Guy:  Good nighht


Momof3:  oh yessss that's it


Momof3:  good night dear


646Guy:  Good night Tootsie

 

Thursday, September 01, 2005


So instead of getting the super expensive perfume, I've opted to go to the famous leather school and get the leather jacket/blazer that you see here. It will not be cheap by any stretch of the imagination but I'm determined to not do major shopping while on the hiking tour because I'd rather not have to lug things around with me and I know that the Italian postal system is notoriously slow and since I'm buying Xmas gifts over there...well maybe if it's supremely gorgeous and I'll never be going there again.....but this jacket is GORGEOUS....