August 21, 2007
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The Return
Returning to xanga is like seeing an old friend. It’s like nothing has changed. Except losing a couple more subscribers.
My time during the last few days were preoccupied by work, organising my trip with friends, work, arranging alternative travel plans if the trip didn’t materialise, work, searching and tracking lenses and filters on eBay to compliment my Nikon, work, selecting a dream team for the fantasy football league and creating one for my department to participate, work, and hoping the sub-prime market collapse in the US will precipitate a property crash in the UK. Did I mention work?
The trip to San Francisco next month will be supplemented by trips to Lake Tahoe, Grand Canyon and Las Vegas. I was supposed to return to SF and Los Angeles last year as my previous visits were back in 1996 and 1986 respectively but better late than never. My research for alternative travel plans resulted in destinations for my trips next year: Canada, Mexico and Cuba. Of course, things can change. Everything for this forthcoming holiday is almost finalised and it is culminating to be the most expensive trip I have embarked on so far.
The cost stems from the fact that in North America, double, triple, quadruple rooms are all the same – two queen or king size beds in the room. The problem arises when three guys do not want to share a bed. We have done so before in the past but not on holiday. For our trip to New York last year I’d solved the problem by finding an apartment to rent. This time the apartments on offer were unsuitable so I’d searched for one and two bedroom suites that tended to be more upscale.
And some people wondered why I haven’t been out for ages. This is why! I’d been leading a boring and languid life saving my money for the new camera gear and for the holiday. Perhaps it’s a good thing I’m not dating anyone at the moment. As a colleague remarked, it’s better to spend the money on myself than waste it on someone else on a meaningless date as London is so expensive.
Observations At Work
Pics taken with my camera phone
A new business strategy? Or another measure of innovative cost-cutting?
Some people just can’t read…
…still dumping paper into a bin for recycling tapes.
Deadly Fruit
One day in the forest, 3 guys were just hiking along a trail when all of a sudden, a huge pack of indians attaked them and knocked them out.
When they woke up, they were at the leader of the tribe’s throne.
The chief then said, “All of your lives may be spared if you can find ten of one fruit and bring them back to me.”
So after a while the first man returned with 10 apples. The cheif then ordered him to stick all ten of them up his butt without making any expression at all on his face. He had a little bit of trouble with the first one and started crying while trying to put the next one in. He was soon killed.
Later, the next guy came in with 10 grapes. The cheif soon ordered him to do the same as the first guy. After to the 9th grape, the man started laughing so hard for no apperant reason, and was killed.
The first two guys soon met in heaven and the first guy ask the second, “Why did you start laughing? You only needed one more grape and you’d have gotten away!”
The second guy answered while still laughing, “I couldn’t help it. I saw the third guy walking in with pineapples.”
Crabs
Comments (24)
Hey, am I the first to comment?! Yeah!
OMG, the pics are great…
…planning for trips are great, frustrating sometimes and exciting at the same time. I can’t wait to go home to the States, one more month to go!
I really feel bad for that third guy… Godspeed on your trip; it seems like you’re exploring other parts of the States. Have fun.
ahhh…trips are always expensive but in hindsight, i wish i had spent more time in my youth traveling instead of saving for so much money
always enjoying your jokes.
im headed to SF next month too and I got a good deal on a pretty nice hotel 1/2 a block from union square for $115 a night for a weekend on hotwire.com. Not too shabby..the only catch is not knowing what hotel it is until after you book but you can check out how many stars it is and such. Maybe you guys can look into a room with a sofa bed or maybe even request a rollaway bed. Bring some good reading material for the grand canyon drive..it’s a loooonnnnggg one. enjoy your trip!
Happy Hump Day!! puhahaha love the pics =-)
That joke was hilarious.
Completely agreee, better to spend on yourself.. XD Seriously. I do the same thing.. except I won’t be able to travel much with school starting.. won’t be able to work much.. =( But yeah. Saving for next summer, probably going back to the states. Awesome that you’re going to see the Grand Canyon and lake Tahoe, expecting to see some GREAT pictures =P
Ryc: to me, it really is… buying stuff makes me feel better.. XD makes me happy! For a while at least. Besides, I’m going to need my own computer for school anyway. Tired of begging for some time on the computer..
If you read my protected post, you will see my plans. But anyhow, now that my plans are out in the open, I am most likely flying straight to Portland OR and starting anew there–
i can tell you the weather is quite good…
Im still a subscriber!!
HA! Nice sign in the box – and what is up with the blowup doll??
Wow, you’re going to be really near me if you’ll be at the Grand Canyon!
yeah, are guys are just homophobic? girls share beds all the time on vacay and it’s not a problem.
how exciting you’re coming to my city! the sad thing is you’ll probably do more during your time here than i have since the new millenium.
I think you said your plans were finalized. But if you do have flexibility on accomodations, check out the San Remo. http://www.sanremohotel.com/ My sister and her daughter loved it, it’s in a great neighborhood, has friendly and helpful service, reasonable prices, and might be able to handle the 3-person thing. I’ll message my cellphone number to you —- will be happy to welcome you and your crew.
Room without sink for 3 people (with 1 double bed & 1 twin bed) $90
Celebrating 100 years of Old World hospitality
“Portal to the City’s Past” Package -
This package includes two nights at standard rates ($65-$90) and a third night for $19.06.
From the San Remo. It’s location is in the North Beach neighborhood, but only a 3-4 blocks walk to Pier 39 and Fisherman’s Wharf (too touristy, go once but no need to linger or return the Wharf)
Yeah, dating is expensive. But still I can’t help but like to be taken out for dinner!
ryc: yes, everyone had adecent slice!
Happy saving up for your happy holidays ahead!
Oh, i don’t have another job yet, because I’m moving from Seattle to Boston to go to grad school. I know i’ll have to find something part-time while I’m in school, but I have no idea what my schedule will be, so it’s a matter of figuring all that out…
You should come visit Nebraska.
ryc: the hubby will not be babysitting, but the hubby’s parents will! those grandparents sure come in handy!
but they *love* spending time with their grandson, so it’s a win-win thing.
ryc: I want to start over somewhere else, where it’s less expensive also. I’ll be away from the oil refineries too. I want to leave the past in the past in SF…
Looks like you’ll be in SF just after I leave. I promise to leave the city clean and in good order for you… just the way I found it.
RYC: Thankfully, I have a full-time job already so I won’t have to look for something now that the teaching gig is up. It was just a volunteer, once-a-week position.
Safe travels!
hey dude!! croatia was quite nice, a little more under-developed than say the rest of western europe but it had it’s own charm. Very historical and rustic, I think my favourite place was Dubrovnik as we stayed in the buildings overlooking the city square which was always bustling with activity. We got reallllyyy sick of seafood after that trip cos that was all we had for 7 days since it was so cheap!! Hvar was very pretty as well, Split was prolly the least interesting of the three places we visited because you couldn’t swim
but even if we did swim the water was freezing!!!
Welcome back, and thank you!