I am alive...vacation is fun

The only problem I have discovered thus far is a scarcity of wifi connections. I guess therre are some out there, since I found this one, but places that have them aren't clearly marked, except the Pompidou Center in Paris, which is very well marked, but it wasn't someplace I really wanted to take my computer so I could log into the net. I will try to update things, but no promises, at least until I get back home.

The transit strike in Paris meant I walked alot...and I do mean a lot.

From Emerald to Lights

I don't quite know if Paris is the city of light or city of lights, though this time of the year, I would think the latter would be most appropriate. For whatever reason, what would visiting Paris be like if there weren't a transit strike going on. It seems as if I am going to be on the inconvenienced side of that equation upon my arrival--nothing like a 50 Euro cab ride to endear you to a city. It is Paris, but, being the stupid traveller I am, I thought since there was a strike last month, i would not have to deal with one in November. At some point, I will learn that not all unions behave like those in the United States.

The markets here are out of locally grown flowers, and I don't expect to see much in that vein while I am gone, but with luck the change of scenery will do me the proverbially much good. Sometime after I get there, I will do what I can to update the blog, and hopefully the update will include pictures, though there is still no guarantee they will pertain to what I am writing, except in that vague way a picture of Paris with an article about the place have a connection.

Still Sunday, still not really up to much

Considering whether or not to take another picture using the colored pencil filter. Since it is brighter out now than it was earlier, more detail shows up. It is sort of odd, not having any major plans to work out, though I guess it would be prudent to begin looking through the guidebooks and plans things to do, though I doubt I will get around to that. I will look into them for some suggestions, other than self-catering, to keep food costs reasonable, but more of this advice will revolve around finding places which don't cater to tourists. I could probably resort to fast food as well, though that seems a bit of sacrilege in Paris, though it isn't likely I will visit someplace with a Michelin star, so this shouldn't be a major concern for me. I just hope I manage to hold out through all the museums.

A Little Early

I thought, hey, let's do a blog post, then I realized my coffee wasn't even ready and I was barely cognizant. The coffee has been taken care of, and now my blog pictures are beginning to be a bit narcissistic, and if not that, then at least, look what I can do. Built in cameras have some use, though I haven't really decided on the perfect use yet. I have been told they are there so the government can spy on you when you are using your laptop, but it seems awfully idiotic (perfect, then, for government work) since many people close their laptops when not using them, and when you are using it, the government is only going to see an image of someone typing.

Sunday morning with surf music in the background and good coffee in my mug. I have most of the clothing part of packing taken care of, provided I don't change my mind about anything. I may decided to add a long-sleeve shirt or two, since much of what I have packed is for weather similar to here, which in looking at weather.com, seems appropriate. That's it for now.

Worn Out

Saturday, just prior to vacation, and I am feeling as worn out as the sign pictured. I finally got around to getting myself packed, at least when it comes to clothes. There is a bit more work to do when it comes to my carry on, with the computer, camera, and a couple of days worth of clothes. Quite wacky the list I need to fit into my backpack, and the other decisions I need to make, such as DVD's, Ipod, or other digital distractions. I doubt I will take any with me, though I might, because I don't see much reason to saddle myself with it. I am really hoping the funk will lift before my plane lands at CDG. It is always hard to say, but I am sure once I find myself leaving work early on Tuesday, the funk will lift, though there will be the requisite amount of panic and concern for time prior to me getting to the airport, dealing with the TSA, and getting a seat. Oh well...Tuesday will be here soon enough.

This evening I went to Zayda Buddies again for dinner. The food isn't bad, but I couldn't quite not laugh at people paying $3.00 a can for Blatz, Hamm's, Schlitz, & something called Golden Grain or Grain Field--a midwestern beer that must originate further west in the midwestern landscape than my knowledge. They have bottles of Leinenkugel, which is a good beer, but the other stuff is just bad, and they might as well stick with the PBR, since it is cheaper and just as good. Oh well, I wasn't drinking it, so I shouldn't have too much fun at their expense. It is just one of those things, having grown up there, some things you just don't miss.

Growing Financial Paranoia

It is odd, after several years not having a credit card, though having a debit card, with my upcoming trip to Europe, I am becoming paranoid about my debit cards not working. I haven't received the credit card I applied for, so I could earn miles for all of my hotel charges, and I am worrying about the debit cards not being accepted. Don't get me wrong, I have never had a problem using them abroad previously, but there is a first time for everything, and I don't want this to be that time. As it is, I am doing those things, like considering buying Euros ahead of time, for at least a cushion, which would make a cut off less disastrous. What makes me really wonder though, and while I was in Romania and heading to other places on the continent during holiday, I never really worried about the whole thing, but I had a back up card just in case, so is this just because I don't have the safety net I am accustomed to, or is it because Bush's push to have Americans live in fear is rubbing off on me, and in a peculiar fashion because of my upcoming vacation. It is hard to say, but I have noticed that at least one person I know also seems to be acting in a more peculiarly paranoid fashion. The culture of fear has begun, and it will take some effort to get myself out of it, and some effort to make sure those around me don't succumb as well.

No pictures, I think

No entertaining pictures today, but that is as much because I didn't take any this week (even of the boy dressed as Captain Underpants), as that I don't feel like raiding the few that are on here, as they don't quite express my mood. Much like my friend Dave, I am still accustoming myself to using a laptop keyboard, though I hope my learning curve is faster than his, but I can't quite say, since my writing on the computer at this point is limited to this blog, and however often I decide to update.

For my trip, I am fairly sure that Cologne is now out of the picture, though not because it wouldn't be a worthy side trip, but because I am hoping to find enough in Antwerp to keep me busy, though if I don't, I can always leave early on my final day to see what trouble I can get into in Amsterdam, that short train ride away, and the final destination on my Paris-Amsterdam open jaw ticket trip. I really need to find a wittier name for the trip, but it hasn't come yet. It isn't like my Castle & Campanile tour of '04, where I went to as many castles and climbed as many campaniles as I could, perhaps when I start the trip, I will find a fun name for it.

On a slightly different note, it is interesting to read, while he personally finds water-boarding deplorable, the attorney general nominee isn't quite sure if it is illegal. Over the centuries, it hasn't necessarily been unusual, but I think today, most would consider it cruel and unusual as a form of interrogation; therefore, it should be illegal. The commentary creates the impression that he is trying to prevent lawsuits and potentially being required prosecute his own staff, though there may be laws on the books that protect them. From that perspective, his answers make sense, though they don't make him sound like he oozes integrity. As a country, I really believe we need to move forward and away from the aspects of this presidency that make the United States out to be a participant in atrocities, rather than the beacon of hope and light it has more traditionally, if not accurately, been perceived as. Too bad the executive branch doesn't see it that way.