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Lots of sports this year. Dodgers lost the NLCS tonight I saw the Lakers raise the Championship Banner from last year. I've never gone to a ring ceremony. It was pretty cool.

NLDS!

Dodgers Win! The game was iffy at best. Cardinals were on top of the game all night. The crowd was up and down but in the bottom of the ninth the last out was DROPPED! Everyone was up! Waving towels! Screaming! It was the loudest game I've ever been to, and after a hit batter and a couple of hits the dodgers stole the win! I hugged a guy I didn't even know.
It was much better than being at work.

Jury Duty

I've wanted to be on a jury. See the process and I got my chance. PERFECT! Downtown LA. I get paid for not being at work. I see downtown everyday, (fuck I fight traffic going and coming but I park for free) write, draw, see.
The jury process is very inefficient but that's the way it goes. We don't see all the workings so it might be more productive that we think but I'm still having a fun.
Rode a motorcycle this weekend. Jury duty. Life doesn't suck.

eating

everything. Everything reminds me of food.
I'm in a weigh loss compettion at work and I've been doing better. During trips I walk a lot and the temptations aren't as bad but the last couple of days with falafel, hot dog and kabob carts on every corner it's been tough.
I'm waiting out the time until I have to get on the train to the airport. The day is great. I walked through central park, got to a museum and had a small piece of fish, potato and a plum and a peach for dessert.
Tomorrow I weigh in and I have to get to work.

it's been good. Life is good.

fire!

This baseball trip happened to fall on the forth of july so I got to see the fireworks in new york for the first time.
Now everyone knows, I hate people but really it's the average man I hate, and the average man was out in force saturday.
People standing in front of others, muscling their way into spot obviously taken,general inconsideration.That's what I hate.
The fireworks were ok. I'm glad I did it and would not make special effort to see them again.
Checked into the Chelsea again today and met one of the artists in the hotel. Tomorrow, new yankee stadium and the game.
I'm having fun this trip but I'm tired.

the wrong way to get directions

I'm in New York. I finished way too much pastrami so I wanted to walk back to my hotel. I walked a bit. Picked up some fruit at a small shop and asked the guy behind the counter which direction central park was. He didn't know but a couple with austrailian accents chimed in to help me find the way. Now mind you I just wanted a vague hand gesture to confirm I was headed in the right direction (turns out i wasn't) but the guy started with a four street turned list of how to get to central park. But the woman decided to tell me how to get there faster with a six turn route. Swear to god, they were there about 2 minutes deciding which way to send me.
I was polite and stayed for the whole discussion but come on. Really, how hard was it.
Just go up 5th that way. That's all it really required.
Their heart was in the right place which is why I stayed for the whole process but... let's go people.

burning the candle

It's deep into baseball season so I'm traveling. I've seen three new stadiums this year. Just got back from Minneapolis and Chicago.
I'm having a great time but I'm a little tired.
Some think its odd that I go so far to see games I could see in my own town, but it's not about that.
I'll see, eat, and do as much as I can until the dirt goes in my face.
I suggest you do the same.

ahhhh ...fate

I thought, maybe I'm being greedy. After two weeks in italy and a couple of days in London, I worked a couple of days and jumped a plane with some friends to try and see the northern lights in Alaska. The time of year was supposed to be ideal so I booked it.
However, an eruption of a volcano, YES A FUCKING VOLCANO!, cancelled our flight and left us in Seattle for a night. We got turned around pretty quick and it wasn't terrible. I fortunately the group I was with was good. Not a whiner in the bunch, so ...eh...I didn't see the northern lights but....they'll still be here and It's actually good to be home...to unclog my shower...yeah..my tub is full of black crap from the sewer...NICE! welcome home...

sick

fucking airports and planes! airports 90 degrees airplanes 30 degrees! WTF!
I got off the plane in boston with a severe headache and then boarded the plane with a screaming baby.
I got home about 930 last night. I thought I would be able to work around the house and relax but I just crashed. I may be getting a cold.
Good news. The market is up and my bed is warm.
It was a great trip.

nothing...

I had a big mac today. I've been eating pretty well and walking alot. I walked through kensington and hyde parks and got hungry. All the grease and salt wiped me out, so I went back to the hotel for a nap.
Woke up had some fish and chips at a pub. Watched Ireland beat Wales in the 6 Nations final and came to post.
It will be a quiet night. Have to catch the plane tomorrow and it will all be a memory.
later...

wandering

Out to see the two tates yesterday. Rode the ferry on the Thames and got a meat pie at the subway station...MMMM...I remembered how good those things were.
Last full day. Off to the parks and another museum.
Catching the plane tomorrow.

triumph

x

london

HA! citibank at $3!!!! YEA.... well that's another post.
I landed a couple of hours ago. Checked in to my hotel and showered.
Lost my subway ticket but found cheap and reliable internet. Pluses and minuses.
I'm still a little tired. The plance ride from venice to london was only 2 hours but i'm still feeling it. It's probably the realization I have to be at work in a few days.
Actually, the sick fuck that I am... I'm looking forward to getting to work. Contrary to popular belief I work hard and I love my job. But it wears me out, so when I get to get out in the world I really recharges me.
Anyway, the one thing I'm getting adjusted to is hearing conversations in english and not hearing the work "TUTTI" punched up in every sentance. I think it means everything or all in italian and the italians use it ALOT! I won't really miss that.
I just had bad falafel and a warm diet pepsi.
I'll be out in the town tonight but have to get up early tomorrow.
More later people.

venice

I'm spending the day just wandering. I went to the doge's palace and it was amazing but just walking the streets and crossing the canal back and forth is enough. Just being here and taking it is is reward enough for the plane ride.
There are alot...alot of tourists here and they tell me this is an off year. I still hate people...it could be worse though.
Catch the plane tomorrow.
later.

yesterday...

I arrived on the noon train from Bologna. I walked out of the train station and there it was. Venice. It was like a movie. Water, boats, people standing around smoking. I stopped and made sure I had caught up with the moment. My travel karma is still untarnished. I constantly checked the weather before I came and was worried about forecasts of rain, but yesterday, a few clouds and sun. SUN! I caught the number 2 tragetto down the canal for 6.5 euro.
Im telling you this is the best ride in the world for 6.50...I could have ridden all day. The water is a deep jade green pushing the boat from side to side. I lucked out and caught a seat in front under the sun.
Unfortunately video is slow from the spot near my hotel, but I will put up what I have when I get it.
I splashed out on my room. Its bigger than Ive had on this trip but not huge but I do have a balcony over looking the canal and sipped coffee with some pastries this morning while the sun was coming up.
Im off to a Vivaldi concert tonight after a day of hopping to Burano island.
HA! the internet shop here has an english jazz station on! NICE!
Anyway. more when I get a chance. Two more days in venice...

morning

actually afternoon.
I°m up and checking the directions to the hotel.
I love bologna especially this hotel. I Portici Hotel! Look it up! Stay here if you can! They treated me very very well!
Anyway, Ill be gone in few minutes on my way to the train.
later...

Asinelli

Heres what I did this morning....

italy

You know I was wondering the city and looking at all of the buildings. Hundreds of years of history. Red brick everywhere. Towers. Gates. Ive taken so many pictures I had to stop because the pictures just arent enough. Being here, listening, seeing, absorbing everything is what I want to take back and pictures and movies are just slivers of the experience.
I was thinking today. "this is my favorite city" this is after I climbed to the top of the tower. And then I remembered. Ive said that after each of the cities Ive been to. I can only imagine what venice will be like.
I got some great help from my hotel regarding a motorcycle but no Ducati here in Bologna. I wanted to ride and italian bike through the italian countryside. Apparently only in Rome or Milan. Probably other spots but not in Bologna. I could get a BMW F650 but I rode one already and didnt particularly like it.
This will have to wait for another time.
More later.

after the fight....

taking in some music...

bologna

this is what I saw a few hours ago...

leaving florence

this morning...

http://www.youtube.com/v/XL3ZYJR7ROQ

leaving florence

this morning...

like a dog...

before I left I thought about a haircut. usually my thoughts about grooming on my birthday trip is that it really doesnt matter what I look like since this really isnt a social trip but last couple of days looking at myself in the mirror, I was starting to resemble a sheepdog, a round headed sheepdog. Now even I have some pride so Ive been keeping my eye out for a barber and while hunting for a restaurant open for a late lunch there it was "barber shop" in english on the window and a man in a black shirt reading the paper.
the most expensive item on the menu was 10 euro and I could go for that. Now rather than explain what I usually get in the worst possible italian and have this guy learn english, I waved my hand around my head and said....short. He responded "corti" and I said..."sure....corti" In a barber shop...what else is he going to say...really...
he put the bib on me and off we went. first he took the scissors to my sides. clipping and banking the scissors against the comb. It reminded me of when I got haircuts as a kid. I still remember the upholstered booster I used to have to sit on....anyway...
After the scissors he pulled the electric clippers. Now these things made a loud buzz every 2 minutes or so and it freaked the barber when it happened. I could tell he was a little off about it, but he fixed it...no shit...with a hair pin. Whatever adjustment he made worked because I lived to tell the tale.
He cut ALOT of hair and as the layers came off the snow white of my hair started to really come in. The last top layer was about 30 percent grey...now im closer to 60 percent.
He was about done but he had to do the finishing touches. Now before I had lasik alll this was just a fuzzy bunch of movements until I paid but now I saw the guy go back to the sink and get his straight razor. NICE! this could be it for your hero...
but where the girl from supercuts asks "straight or round" for the back, a man with a straight razor decides for you, and I have no problem deffering the choice in this situation. 10 euro and I was out of there.
Now, food. As I mentioned the afternoon alot of stuff closes until dinner so I ended up at a sandwich shop with a bakery. I had very nice roast beef sandwich and the hog I am I was sizing up the pastries. I chose a little cake with powered sugar on top and a macciato to go...
I walked down the street to have my dessert in the shade of a church, and you can see the scene in my picture.
I didnt know what was in the cake, if anything, and bit into it to find pineapple. Fuck! I love pineapple. I only had a thimble full of coffee so I had to measure each bit so I could finish the two at the same time.
I must say, the moment was nicely done.
That was about 30 minutes ago.
The internet at my hotel sucks so I stoppped here at an internet bar on a side street in town.
Im working on a few things for the trip. so Ill have more later.
later...

lunch

After wandering through the city and the Uffizi Gallery all morning I worked off my breakfast and it was getting closer to lunch.
The guidebook had a small paragraph on Florence Beef, a local type of steak unique to this area. I'm all over stuff the locals eat, see or do (within certain defined limits pertaining to my own moral and ethical standards).
Anyway, I wandered a bit more trying to get a good hunger going. I looked at a couple of restaurants yesterday and saw they had Bisteca Florentina by the kilo, which tells me ...that's a big plate of food.
I found a restaurant that has been there since 1913 and went in. It was cool. Full of people and a little loud but I assumed that meant the locals were happy to be there, which is a good sign.
I ordered a homemade pasta with mushrooms and the steak, with a bottle of sparkling water. I opened up my journal and started writing about my day. The waiter, a kid, comes back with instructions from the chef. He says "Dude, the, uh...steak, it's 800 uh....grams....is that ok....we ...we can't you know....cut it down...." now for dramatic effect and to make this clearer for my people from california, the italian waiter did not say "dude" or "you know"...it just helps the story move so bear with me.
I told him it was fine. I was going to have the steak no matter now much it was....then I did the math....actually my calculator did the math. 800 grams in about 1.75 lbs. That's a pretty big steak, and I was having a plate of pasta. I was getting tired just thinking about it.
But before I could ponder the dilemma any further the pasta hit the table. It smelled like sauted mushrooms and olive oil and it was good. "hold on man!" I told myself, "That fucking steak is coming!"
I tried to pace myself but to no avail. The pasta was gone in a few minutes.
For about ten minutes I had to psych myself into a trance to be able to manage this steak which was on it's way.
I kept writing in my book and there it was. On a wooden platter just under two pounds of steak. It didn't look to bad. It smelled really good. It had that charcoaly smell like when you leave the meat on the grill to long and it burns. MMMMM....
I cut away some fat and cut into the meat. It was red in the middle and really juicy. My first bite wasn't that impresssive. It was a steak.
Now the last steak I had was from Black Angus. No offense to the Black Angus corporation and employees. You all do good work but this was better.
At first, I thought "hey, how good could a steak possibly be?" but as I continued the flavor of the grill and the tenderness of the meat I was started to have an expericence. Maybe it was being in a little restaurant in italy while my coworkers were up and down storage tanks but I was bonding with this steak.
I was slowly enjoying every bit. Cutting. Savoring. Repeating. Washing it down with some water and doing it again, until it was gone.
Now I was a different cat than they were used to. I could see they weren't getting one guy eating all that meat and writing and drawing in a book. They were polite but confused. They let me alone until I was done then the manager looked at me as smiled and I'm sure he thought..."wow...what else will this fucker eat?" and he offered me a drink, some coffee and pastry, etc.
I told him I was good and that he did good work, paid my bill and went off under my own power under the afternoon sun.
I feel pretty good. I completely recommend florentine steak by the way, if you're ever in the neighborhood.
more later....

after a day of wandering through the city, I worked off breakfast and I was getting hungry. The book said that in florence, there is a local beef which is a

backdated from rome...

this just in...Im fat.
I went to st peters to climb to the top of the dome. I asked for a ticket. You buy with an elevator ride or with out. I asked for no elevator. I said it in italian. The guy glaced at me and gave me at ticket with the elevator.
FU dude.
I made it and I counted the steps. Those fuckers need an accountant, but brochure says 320 steps to the top.

off the train

done with rome, I jumped the train to florence.
I wasnt sure how much time to put into seeing florence but I can tell it wont be enough. This is really the italian experience I was looking for.
I got a great room with 10 foot ceilings in a building on a long narrow street that looks like it was built in the 1200s and maybe it was!
I figured I would relax and hit the Uffuzi or the Pitti Palace but both have lines down the street. Im going to have to get up early and see what I can see but really Im sure the galleries, museums and palaces are spectacular but just walking down the streets would be enough for me. The colors, architecture and the sounds wash over you.
I had my first, second actually, italian pizza. It was good. Not amazing but good and I was starving it hit the spot.
For dinner, Im looking for bisteca florencia. Its a beef specific to florence. NICE!

ha! I can get up in the morning

what to do in the morning...

I got an early start and went to the vatican today. I read in my book that the sistene chapel gets really crowded and is hard to get to because the man puts it at the end of a long line of rooms and passageways.
The museum opens at 845am or so my book told me and I wanted to get there before every bluehair and high school jackass had the chance to take his picture with gods finger up his nose. The book said you have to sign up for a tour to even get to the chapel but I wasnt having any of that for the afformentioned reasons.
I got to the entrance at 820am. As I got there masses of tourists had just arrived. The doors were open so I went in. Looks like they opened a little earlier than the book said.
I went through room after room of paintings and sculptures. The man was not going to make this an easy trip. Luckily it seemed the groups behind me were stuck getting tickets and getting everyone to emply their bladders before going in so I had some time. I passed a couple of smaller groups already in the building and on their way to the chapel. I cut through them as they were frozen like deer listening to their guides in german french and japanese.
I finally got to the end and was amazed at how small and close the paintings were. The quality was amazing and the expressions were masterful.The didnt look like anything that I was expecting because I wasnt there yet. I was in the Raphael rooms. Great stuff, glad I saw it but not my final destination.
Literally, over and around more rooms, passages and stairs I finally got there.
The sistene chapel.
And there were about 70 people there already. Ok, 70 does not make for a solitary art appreicating moment but not as bad as it could be. People were quiet and the guide of the only group in there was talking in a low tone so I could enjoy it.
And I did, as much as I could because it was 850am and like being at the beach up to your waist I could feel the swell of people building. I could hear the chatter in the backround from the path I just came from. They were coming.
So I just took deep breaths and drank in as much of the ceiling and the surroundings as I could. And I enjoyed it, until 857am, when they started to spill in through the door. I moved to the smaller partitioned room, but it was no use I could feel the masses building so I left.
It was good but there are a lot of tourists here.
My luck with my birthday trip is holding true. I was worried about rain and it was about 70F today with just a few clouds to shade me.
I havent seen nearly enough of this city so I will have to come back.
I may be moving on Florence tomorrow.
Im off to see the pantheon.
later...

got here now what...

I got in yesterday. The last flight and the tram to get to the city took the last bit of energy out of me. I got to the hotel (a good choice by the way, just 15 steps from the exit of the subway)took a quick shower and boom! asleep.
The voice on the tram from the airport was funny. In italian it was an italian guy, but in english it was a british guy. What the hell? Only the english can speak english? Which may be the thought process because for the english it was the english guy but when he got to an italian name....BOOM! italian guy stepped in and said MANZONI....then it was back to the british guy.
Interesting.
Shot a video of this morning, you may like.
and yes I did get up early. I couldn't help it I slept about 14 hours.
later.

layover

This thing was going pretty well, only an hour layover in New York, but, I didn't look to close at the reservation at this point. I'll be in Brussels for 4 hours. It's a nice airport. High ceilings. Clean. And people speak mainly french here which for some reason makes me stand up a little straighter. Why? Who knows.
I've been on a plane for the last 14 hours and I'll be glad to get into a hotel, which is again half a day away at this point.
Take a look at the coke machine graphic here. Local airport culture. I don't even know what the coke machines in LAX look like.
I had a coffee and a biscuit. Which killed about 40 minutes. The day is plodding along. I'm beat. I'm going to be out in Rome this evening but I won't really appreciate it until I can recharge.
I'm running on caffiene and sugar right now. and I smell like ...well like you smell when you've been on an airplane all day in the same clothes.
I'll give my fellow travelers a break and brush my teeth.
What a saint I am.
Rome is next.
later.

PCH

I went for a practice ride last week. A friend rented a motorcycle and we rode around an elementary school parking lot. It sounds lame but I dropped the bike once. I have a great deal of respect for the motorcycle and everything that it takes to pilot safely.

After last week I decided that I needed to go further, so this week I rented a bike and not going round and round in a parking lot I drove to my friend's house, with mapquest in my head and my stomach in my mouth I set off this morning. I felt like the first time I rode my bicycle into the next city over. I was extending my reach and I was nervous but exhilarated.

I made it to my friends house and we set out. Three at first then only two. We went down PCH and ended up at Laguna. AMAZING! I live in one of the most beautiful spots in the world. I hesitate to say that because there are too many people here already but it's true. We stopped at a spot and looked at the beach and sea lions on the rocks below and back out on the road.

Today was one to the best days I've ever had, and my birthday is only two weeks away.

rolling

I'm a gambler. I love it. I can mostly control it. It's one of the sources of great pleasure in my life. When I started going to vegas I was intimidated by the craps table but now that's the only reason I go to a casino.
I was in vegas this weekend. I had the best run at the table I've ever had! I rolled for about 30 minutes. I made 4 of the 6 points. I didn't make a ton of money but more than I ever had, but the best part was I had the table howling. I've had that experience before when the whole table feels you are lucky. You feel everything is going right but could collapse at any moment and the dice stop, and the players look and yell, shake their head and smile. There is nothing. NOTHING like it.
I hit one of my favorite casinos downtown on this trip. I got to the table. There was just one other guy there. The dice came to me and I was rolling again. Making money and I did something I've always wanted to do.
I bet seven for a dollar....and hit it...parlayed...hit it...and parlayed it again....and HIT IT! I turned one dollar into one hundred and twenty five! I've hit three or four in a row but hadn't bet on it...and I've won two in a row...but betting for three and hitting them...it was great!
I didn't bring back all the money I won but I came out ahead, for only the second time in my history of vegas.
I have to let this adrenaline pass before I go again....that is going to take awhile.

4 to 2

A couple of weeks ago, a friend of mine surprised me...HEY! We're going to get our motorcycle licenses! (We she meant a co-worker I'm good friends with as well) LET"S DO IT!.
Getting a motorcycle is on my list of things to do before I die, and I hadn't thought about it much so...WHAT THE HELL! With a little coaxing I signed up.
I failed the DMV test right off. Took it again. Failure. I was a bit peeved.
Yesterday and today I was at the riding class. Yesterday was the first day I've ever driven a motorcycle. I was very tentative. The exercises were basic and my comfort increased and today...I passed the certification! I'll get my certificate in a few day and I'm headed back to the DMV with a little more swagger than before.
I probably won't buy a bike unless a great deal comes my way. I'm not planning on riding a lot but I like to know that I have the ability.
However, I may just rent a bike on my birthday trip.