Being Football Royalty isn't Enough for Some People

Boo on working on a Friday night but yay for the work get-together at the bar afterwords.  Work outings are usually a good time and this one should be pretty massive.  I'm not really sure what to write about right now; I honestly just wanted to get something down before work because I assumed that later tonight I wouldn't be writing.  Here we go pressures on and what can I produce...I've got nothing.  Oh, I cooked dinner last night, let's discuss it shall we. 

I arrived home last night around 6:30 pm only to discover that there was no cooked food in the house and my mom was upstairs busy with whatever it is she does.  Naturally I was a little peeved but once I calmed down I decided it was time I made some dinner.  So I defrosted a couple of large chicken breasts, soaked them in olive oil and a herb and spice infusion and then sauteed them in a skillet.  I also made one of my patented salads, this one consisting of lettuce, tomato, carrots, and avocados, seasoned with lemon juice, olive oil, salt and pepper.  Wait there's more.  In order to complete the well balanced meal I made penne in a pesto sauce.  Not bad right?  I thought it was pretty tasty for a spur-of moment meal and my mama agreed.  I was shocked that she actually ate my food because she's usually a picky eater.  Great success overall, which could be a bad thing because now she may expect me to cook more often.  No bueno, next time I'll have to burn the kitchen down so she never relies on me for any type of cooking.

I've really wanted to get all up into The Girl Who Played with Fire but I haven't had the time.  Saturday may be the day.  I'm feeling an early morning workout followed by breakast and then a Starbucks outing so that I can knock out some reading.  I'm hooked on a new drug and it's called Larsson, Stieg Larsson to be exact.  I'm obsessed with his books and I just want to finish them and then see the movies now.  Christmas is too far away for the American Dragon Tattoo movie.  Fun fact though, I did some research into the American version and found out an interesting fact about the girl who will be playing Lisbeth, Rooney Mara.  First of all she's Kate Mara's sister and I've always been a fan of Kate Mara ever since I first saw her on Nip/Tuck.  Second of all her name Rooney Mara represents two of the most famous football owning family in the NFL.  Her family represents a merger of the Rooney's, who have always owned the Pittsburgh Steelers, and the Mara's, who have always owned the New York Giants.  What a family to be a part of.  I always knew I loved Kate Mara for a reason and now I know why, because she's football royalty.  Eventhough I hate the Giants with a passion and shit all over them (with my words not literally) at every instance you can't deny the tremendous and profound effect that the Maras have had on the NFL.  In short, now I'm even more in love with Kate Mara, and her sister Rooney (what an awesome name), and I'm even more excited for the new Girl with a Dragon Tattoo movie coming out in December.  Let me find a picture of the Mara girls. 

Kate's on the right and Rooney's on the left.  Not only are they football royalty but they're also gorgeous.  Some people just have all of the luck don't they.  I'm not hating, just saying, if one of them (or both) wants to join me for drinks or dinner I wouldn't object.  I'd prefer Kate but I'm not picky. 

I'm Going to hit you...With a Lawsuit...?

Yeah, yesterday a customer literally said those words to one of the manager's from work.  And what spawned such a ridiculous reaction you ask?  The customer's wife was sitting on a table reading a book.  For those of you who have forgotten, tables are not the appropriate furniture for sitting; chairs and stools are for sitting.  Even sitting in the floor is ok, but not sitting on a table, especially a table that has books or is supposed to have books on it.  So anyway my manager told the lady that she couldn't sit on the table and what does she do?  Runs and tells her hubby.  This guy then walks up to my manager and says, 'I'm going to hit you.'  At that moment my manager thought, 'awesome.'  My manager is a good sized guy who could certainly hold his own in a fight so in his mind he thought, 'bring it.'  As my manager was gearing up for a round of fisticuffs, the guy expanded on his threat by saying ,'I'm going to hit you with a lawsuit.'

I think it's hilarious how so often in this country people's answers to disputes are law suits.  I'll sure you for this and I'll sue you for that, so ridiculous.  I mean who really has the time and effort to go to a lawyer, have them file a claim, and then take a day off of work to go to court from some miniscule issue that may result in a tiny payout that would most likely be less than a normal day's salary.  It just bothers me how instead of just stopping and talking out a dispute people have to draw it out to point the court proceedings are necessary.  Or how about this rude main line man and wife:  just walk away.  Ok, so a retail manager asked you not to do something and you disagree.  You have every right to, it's ok, now how about you just walk away and go home.

Really it's just sad how poorly people in this country discuss and solve disputes.  A simple dispute such as this could be settles with a civilized conversation.  But who has those types of conversations anymore, especially on the main line.  For some reason most people think they are superior to their fellow man.  I don't know where this comes from, but especially on the main line people just feel like they are of higher class, and therefore more entitled and better people.  So naturally, better people don't need to apologize, admit that they may have been wrong, show any manners, or act kindly to their fellow insubordinates.  Instead, it's perfectly ok to go around and talk down to people, threatening them with legal action for a simple verbal misunderstanding.  Every day I work on the Main Line I can't stand it more.  Areas like the Main Line represent  everything that's wrong with this country.  The richest, most powerful people, get all of the tax breaks, bankrupt the economy, and then continue to live the high life and treat everyone else like crap.  I can't stand superiority and I can't stand rich snobby people.  So often I think that I never want to be rich because I'm afraid what massive sums of money will do to my personality.   I'm going on tangents which means bedtime.     

Oh wait, funny story from work today.  So this guy is in the fiction/literature section and asks where he can find books on J.R.R Tolkien (author, wrote Lord of the Rings series).  I direct the guy to science fiction and fantasy and he gives me this look like I completely offended him.  I think he said something like, 'Science fiction, what?'  Then my coworker chimed in that it was also a section on fantasy and he replied, 'Now that I can buy, but not the whole section.'  I was perplexed by this guy's reaction and I took a little while to process it.  Then I asked my coworker, 'I'm sorry but are orcs real?  What about elves or Hobbits?  Because as far as I know they're mythical creatures and therefore belong in the science fiction and fantasy section.'  I mean seriously guy, you want stories about orcs and goblins in regular fiction?  Sure they're well written, and I guess you could make the argument, but is it really something to get offended over.  I feel bad for this guys kids because you know he's totally the type of guy to dress up and drag them to comic-con against their will.  Oh well, it cracked me up for the rest of the day.  Ok now bedtime for real. 

Lisbeth Makes me Want a Motorcycle

I want to get a motorcycle; I've decided.  I've gone back and forth on what kind to get but I think I'm going to go back to what I always decided.  I want to get a naked bike, which is a cross between a cruiser and a sport bike.  I've always been a fan of Ducatis myself even though they are quite pricey, and in the end I accept the fact that I'll probably end up settling for a Honda or something less expensive.  Let's see if I can find a picture of the Bike I'd want.

I just think Ducati makes great looking bikes and I always wanted to have one some day.  We'll see how my future career and earning will fit into my necessity for a motorcycle. 

Then again, if a bike will be my primary mode of transportation than in the long run it would be way more cost effective.  A motorcycle is more fuel efficient and less expensive to buy in the first place.  Parking isn't an issue and you can weave through traffic jams during rush hour.  Win win for a single guy like me right?  But what about winter time, with snow, ice, and all of the nasty cold weather possibilities.  Well friends, I'm pretty sure that I'll be relocating to a much warmer climate that doesn't get too much snow or ice, if any, so I don't think winter weather will be a concern.  I've always wanted a motorcycle ever since I rode my bike everywhere in Middle and High School.  Haven't made it happen yet but I hope that in the future I'll be able to get a license and buy a motorcycle.  People say they're dangerous but guess what, life's dangerous.  I can't let the fear of a crash hold me back from something I've always wanted. 

Switching gears, I felt really nice leaving work today.  The whole second floor was a mess and I spent nearly my entire shift straightening up numerous sections so that they looked nice.  A few of the managers noticed all of my hard work when they went upstairs and thanked me for a job well done, and praised my effort.  In times like these it's nice to know that people still notice and appreciate hard work.  It's so easy to take the attitude of, 'Oh well, I'm getting laid off anyway in x number of weeks so who cares if I don't do any work.'  Trust me, that thought has run through my brain often throughout the past week at work.  And then my good old friend integrity comes back and gives me a kick in the ass to do something and actually earn the money that I'm being paid.  Work ethics are important, and are pretty difficult to develop.  I'm glad that mine is still intact during this dark time in my employment.  Oh how I'll miss you Borders.  What's wrong with society when a book store closes?  Yeah, not gonna tackle that one tonight; it could take a while and I've had a few late nights.  I'm off to start The Girl who Played with Fire.  Let's hope Larsson won't disappoint me with the second installment. 

P.S-Lisbeth's coolness/badassness is one of the main reasons why I rekindled my desire for a motorcycle. 

Watched the Swedish Version

So tonight I decided to watch The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, the Swedish version (as you probably deduced from my title).  The movie did a nice job portraying important events from the book onto the big screen.  A lot of the minute and sometimes entertaining details were left out, but in the end the movie did an effective job depicting the novel and adapting it to the big screen.  Certain parts were given more care than others and on numerous occasions the movie differed from the book.  This isn't something I'm used to with movies based on books; probably because Harry Potter is still fresh in my head and those movies rarely if ever strayed from Rowling's writing.  I don't want to give to much away for those of you who have not yet read the books or seen the movies (sorry I'm talking about Larsson now not Rowling), but the movie was entertaining. 

I think the parts were cast very well; except for one character in particular whose appearance differed fundamentally between the book and the movie.  I mean come on, is it that difficult to dye someone's hair brown.  When they're described as a brunette in a Scandinavian country it almost seems like that was done in an attempt to make the woman stick out.  Depicting her as a blonde takes away her character's uniqueness.  Anyway, I think the Blomkvist character was spot on and the girl who played Lisbeth did a great job.  The creeps were creepy and the actors did a nice job with their portrayals of Larsson's characters. 

That all being said I still think the movie missed on a number of points.  It felt rushed, the scenery was a little off, and Blomkvist's appeal to women wasn't touched upon at all.  I think an important part of the book was how nearly all of the women in the story felt attracted to him and/or fell for him in some way.  Hopefully the American version will play up his sex appeal, which I expect will happen because Daniel Craig will play his role.  Not to say that I find the man attractive, I don't really find any man attractive, I just feel that Blomkvist's effect on the women of the story should not be left out.  Subtitles are also annoying, so naturally the American-made version will be superior in that regard.  I love reading but not while I'm watching a movie.  I think it's important to take in all of the scenery and actions going on in the film.  Plus more money will go into the American version which usually produces a better movie.  But who knows, the Swedish authenticity of the original could supersede the superior financing and film-making of Hollywood.  Now I have this crazy fear that Hollywood is going to ruin the book with the new film due to come out around Christmas time.  Oh well, still a great book.  If you liked the book watch the Swedish version and generate your own opinion.  Mine in a nutshell:  I thought it was ok, didn't like how much it deviated from the book.  The Lisbeth character made the movie for me; if it wasn't for her excellent acting then I probably wouldn't have liked it.  Really looking forward to the new one and reading the next two books. 

Finished. Now, What Movie to Watch?

I just finished The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo.  Excellent book, and now I'm excited to both see the movie and read the next book.  I'm facing a slight dilemma though with the movie:  Do I watch the Swedish version of the movie or wait for the American made version with Daniel Craig?  I think I'm just going to watch both and then decide which one I like better.  I first saw a trailer for the American version while at the movies to see X-Men: First Class.  I'm going to attempt to post the trailer.  What captivated me about the trailer was the musical score; so perfect for a chilling and gritty murder mystery.  Enjoy:

Finally Reading Stieg Larsson

I usually love the heat and the summer; just can't get enough of it, but lately the heat's really been bothering me.  Maybe because it's been really humid and I've been stuck in areas with insufficient air conditioning systems (my house and Borders).  Either way, this summer heat wave has really gotten to me; I've had headaches and just overall feelings of discomfort.  For the past couple of days I've been wishing for rain just to cool things off, and today I finally got the rain I've been hoping for.  It was so nice to finally have a day where I walked out of my house and wasn't instantly covered in sweat.  I even sat outside and read while it was thunder storming just so I could feel the cooler air and the mist from the rain.  Such an amazing feeling after all of this heat.  I think that I finally understand people who love thunderstorms. The cold air can be such a relief in the blistering summer temperatures.  You know what would have been perfect?  A frisbee session in the rain (not when there's thunder and lightning but while there was regular rain-no I'm not stupid if that's what you're thinking). 

Besides exercising and cutting the grass I spent most of my day reading The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo.  It's really good and I'm trying to finish it tonight so I can watch the movie on Netflix and then move onto the next book.  I'm really enjoying it and for those of you looking for a great read or an intriguing murder mystery I highly recommend this book.  I haven't wanted to put it down and I've put off other important tasks in my life such as writing just so I could nearly finish this book.  It's funny how when I find some form of media that captivates me I can't stop reading, watching, or playing it until I've finished or completed it.  I'm like this with books, TV series, and video games.  I just can't stop until I finish with such media.  For example, I read all of the Harry Potter books and saw all of the movies to date in a 3 week span.  At the time that was 7 books and six movies.  Yes you could say that I easily become obsessed with things.  I pray that such an obsession carries over to my writing when I start to crank out novels.  On that note, back to reading. 

Am I too Picky About my Hair?

Today was a fun filled day.  I slept in late which I don't usually due and then I set out to take on the day.  First order of business was a haircut.  Now I don't know what it is about haircuts, but I think it's so hard to find a place that gives a good haircut.  My haircut is pretty simple, just a 1 1/2 on the sides and finger length on top with the sides blended into the top.  Nothing fancy, yet so often barbers and/or hair dressers manage to mess it up.  Maybe I'm too picky but I've found that more often I leave unsatisfied with my haircut.  Today the lady did a nice job, except for a row of stray hairs on the left side of my head, which I later had mommy dearest clip off for me.  But for the most part I'm usually very unsatisfied with my haircut.  For example, I got my haircut in Israel, told the guy exactly what I wanted and he butchered my head.  Certainly wasn't the first time and it probably won't be the last.  Overall I've found success at two places: one is in state college and the other is in htown but it ends up costing me between 30-40 dollars a cut.  So I've found this other place and they do a decent enough job, but still there's always a little something I'm not happy with.  Maybe I'm just too picky, I mean it's just hair right?  To me, it's just the fact that I have such a simple haircut yet it is so often messed up.  Am I alone in my struggles to find a good yet affordable haircut?  Leave thoughts.

Today I also started a new book, The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo by Stieg Larsson.  I'm probably the last person in the world to finally read this book, but that's how I usually am with trendy things.  Anyway it's pretty good so far, I'm about 170 pages in.  People have told me that it takes a little while to pick up and I can see that so far from my reading.  It's nice though because based on the recommendations of others and the foreshadowing by the author I know that things are really going to heat up. I spent a few hours in my trusty starbucks that I haven't been to in a little while.  I brought the computer as well, thought I might make some headway on the novel, but the book really captivated my attention.  No plans for tonight so I may very well continue on with my reading. 

After Starbucks I came home to workout, but before my workout I found out Amy Winehouse died.  Crazy right?  I mean she was notorious for drug and alcohol problems, but still always a shocker to hear of such a young celebrity meeting their end.  And at 27 too; that crazy age 27.  I'm not really superstitious but it's very peculiar how many famous celebrities have died at age 27.  Anyway I did my P90X chest and back today.  I was supposed to do an ab exercise after but my body was absolutely spent by the end of the chest and back workout.  I even had to take a slight break towards the end, and I knew the the ab workout on top of the 50 minute chest and back session would have been too much.  With fitness it's very important to listen to our bodies and know when we've had enough.  For instance, if you vomit during a workout, not a good sign.  It means you're pushing your body too hard and your body is telling you enough.  Same thing if  pass out of fall flat on your face while doing pushups or some other exercise.  It's really important to listen to your body, otherwise you could be seriously injured.  A friend of mine who's been doing a lot of yoga lately (7 days a week) told me that during a recent session she found that she could barely do one of the easier poses, which surprised her.  I told her that seven days a week is too much and that we all need a rest day.  Her body finally gave way and told her that she needed a break, and I'm glad to report that she heeded my advice.  For those of you who work out or are on the verge of beginning to workout make sure that you listen to your body, and don't push yourself to the point of physical injury or harm.  We weren't all born to be professional athletes and there's nothing wrong with that. 

Ok I know this is getting wordy, let me just finish up with a quick movie review.  Tonight I watched Kill the Irishman with Ray Stevenson and Christopher Walken.  If you like movies about organized crime I would recommend this film based on a true story about organized crime in Cleveland.  Lots of action with a well written plot and good acting to go along with it.  The movie did a fine job representing the clashes that occur when different members of organized crime communities fight over who will run the illegal businesses of a given city.  There are a couple pretty ladies in the film as well.  I'm a fan of Laura Ramsey who also appears in The Covenant, and She's the Man.  I'm not usually a fan of blondes but Ramsey is one of those women who could change my preference.  Let's see if I can find a nice picture...

Pretty right?  I tried to choose a picture of her not looking too done up.  When she has a lot of makeup on and her hair is pulled back she actually looks a lot like Christina Appelgate.  Anyway, pretty girl, good movie, definitely see Kill the Irishman. 

The Zoo that was once Borders

Today was the first day of liquidation and it was crazy.  I'm talking crazy lines for eight straight hours.  In one day we surpassed our total sales for last week.  I was so exhausted by the time my shift ended, and the crazy part was today most things were only 10% off.  The marketing geniuses at Borders sent out this email saying that the clearance sales would be up to 40%.  Gotta love those two words 'up to' that nobody ever seems to pay attention to.  They just see that 40% and assume that the whole store is 40% off.  And then the silly customers come to the store and realize that most things actually aren't 40% off, but since they're already in the store they start to buy things.  What surprised me most were all of the people who only purchased one item after standing in the very long lines.  If I came in to shop I would have left with a handful of items, simply because for me, one item didn't justify waiting in those lines.  Kudos to all of you shoppers out there with that type of patience but for me, all that waiting time would not have been worth it for one item unless it was free. 

Some people were so awkward too, like this one guy was literally staring me down the entire time he was in line.  I could just feel his eyes burning a hole right through me.  And not only was he staring but he had this super angry look on his face, like I slept with his wife or something.  It made me uncomfortable; but then I ended up ringing him up and he was very polite-shocker.  Then there was this girl, either late high school or early college, who was being rung up by the cashier next to me and she wouldn't stop staring at me.  Finally I just turned to her and said, 'Hi how are you,' to which she didn't even respond.  Burn, right?  I mean you're staring me down but you can't talk to me? No worries, she was probably just an awkward high school girl, I just couldn't take the staring; it was like an ultimate awkward silence.  Ultimate because it involved a lock-on stare without her saying anything to me.  Oh the creepers that I encounter on a daily basis. 

And another thing that was killing me:  all of the people saying how sad they were about Borders closing and how they were really going to miss the store.  Now I know there were countless reasons for our store closing, but one of the main reasons was that we weren't making enough money.  Hey sad people, where were you fore the past couple of years when the company was on a downward slope?  It's just funny how all these people are so sad but they could have actually prevented the closing by buying more merchandise.  Now they're stocking up when the sales are mostly just 10% off.  If they actually checked their emails they could have bought products for 30-40% off on a weekly basis, but no, only now they come in because of the going-out-of-business sale.  Crazy people, you could have prevented this mess.  A few customers even mentioned that they were surprised how chaotic and busy the store was.  I wasn't surprised in the least, and I only expect it to get worse.  Forgive me if I get repetitive but I'll probably have plenty of stories to mention for the remainder of my tenure at the bookstore formerly known as Borders. 

Honey Badger Don't Care

My friend Ashley introduced me to this video at work and I think it is wonderful.  Everyone should watch it immediately.  I couldn't stop laughing throughout it; and yes it gets dull at moments but watch it until the end you won't regret it.  Enjoy. 

Happy Birthday Mama

Busy busy day today.  Worked 8 to 4 and then Mom's Bday celebration.  Actually this morning started out in a hilarious way. I left my house and I was almost at work when I realized I was wearing flip-flops.  So what right?  Well when you're working with food and drinks and possibly spilling drinks on your feat flip-flops aren't exactly going to be appropriate.  So I had to turn around, go home, and get shoes.  It was lucky that I did though because not only did I forget shoes but I also forgot my lunch.  Sure I was ten minutes late for work but they're liquidating so nobody really cared.

Today at work I found out that tomorrow would be the last day of the cafe.  It's so fitting that I'll be closing on the last day the cafe will be open.  Hopefully it will be a good close; and then after that I'll be a book seller.  If you can even call me a book seller, I'll be more of a cashier/cleaner.  The book store no longer has an inventory-tracking computer system so we have no way of checking if we have a book in stock and if so how many copies we have.  I expect complete pandemonium in the near future; great time for me to finally work on the book side right.  Oh well, I'll need to condition myself much more than usual about the main line rudeness that will surely come with the liquidation.  No worries, I've gotten to the point that I throw attitude right back when I get it.  So far it hasn't gotten me fired so we'll see how it goes.  But seriously, it's not like I insult or threaten people, I've just gotten to the point that I refuse to be spoken to without respect.  I think everybody deserves to be spoken to in a polite and respectful manner and if someone's going to talk to me like I'm shit then they won't get any service from me.  Don't let anyone talk to you like you're shit, we all deserve respect. 

Today was mama's bday and a big one too: 60.  Oh wait you're never supposed to reveal a woman's age, sorry mom.  My sister and I got her gift cards to a spa for a massage and to free people.  As much as I can't stand giving gift cards because I feel like it's very impersonal my mom actually prefers them.  She's super picky with her gifts and so gift cards are usually the best solution for her.  We were going to go out to dinner along with our 6 guests but my mom actually preferred to stay home and have food here.  You know what that means, more Yonni Cooking.  I did the salad and the grilling while my sister took care of the rice and setting up the table.  Everyone really liked everything and I was also very pleased with how all of the food turned out.  The duration of the heat initially worried me but all of the food turned out very well and everyone was very pleased with my cooking.  We grilled chicken wings, chicken on skewers with grilled vegetables, beef kebobs, and steaks (along with rice and salad).  Then for dessert we had cheesecake and tira misu.  So good, I'm still feeling full from the meal.  I'm a big fan of family and/or friend dinners and gatherings so tonight was a great time.  Family and friends are what it's all about; honestly my family and my friends are what I live for.  Well for myself too, but family and friends enrich the heart and soul (wow that sounds corny but it's so true).  Keep them close to you always.  Early morning wake up tomorrow so bed time. 

Funny morning.  Forgot Shoes.  Nice start.

Easy shift.  Big news.  Bye Cafe.

So hot.  All sweaty.  Ew gross. 

Kosher meats.  Nice assortment.  Grill time. 

Great food.  So full.  Can't move. 

Early morning.  Bye friends.  New day. 

Forget My Day

Harry Potter was awesome, hands down.  I loved everything about it and the only thing that sucks about it is how there won't be any more movies.  The battle was great and I really liked how they explained the story well and put in all of the key parts.  Such a fan of everything that went on with the movie, and I highly recommend that anyone who's a fan goes to see it asap.  It was so good I wanted to watch it a second time right after the showing ended.  Overall just an amazing ending to one of the most captivating movie series based on one of the most entertaining series of novels (for me the most captivating series of novels) ever. 

I'm in a weird mood tonight.  Not feeling great about a few things so maybe some flash fiction and some sleep is the answer. 

Up early.  Cleaned up.  Made breakfast.

Worked hard.  Thanks mom.  No help. 

Valley Forge.  Good plan.  Poor execution. 

KOP Mall.  Cool stuff.  Bought nothing. 

No worries.  High prices.  Outlets again?

Nice dinner.  Good conversation.  Rare ending. 

Called friend.  Mini fight.  Good now...?

Work early.  Need sleep.  Forget today. 

Goodbye Borders

So excited I'm going to see Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part II tonight.  I've been so anxious to see it since last Thursday and now I'll finally get my chance.  It will also be the first Harry Potter movie that I'll be seeing in theaters, with somebody else.  Actually that's a lie, I went to see Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Askaban years ago, but that was before I loved the books and I fell asleep in the theater.  Anyway, 6 and 7 part I I saw by myself so it'll be nice to actually have some company this time around.  I'll have to write my review either tomorrow or later tonight but overall I'm very excited for this movie. 

On on a not-so-bright note, today I found out that Borders is closing.  Such a sad day, I love books and especially the Borders establishment.  I originally took a job at Borders because it was one of my escapes.  On my days off I would come to Borders and walk around, looking at books and magazines.  It was so relaxing in there and I always had such a nice time there that I began to think how much fun it would be to work there and be in the store all of the time.  Until recently the job was a lot of fun but ever since the bankruptcy it's just been different.  Customers are rude and inconsiderate and the employees are constantly waiting to hear the dreadful news from corporate.  Today the final blow was brought down, and before you know it we'll be liquidating.  It's really sad for all of those people whose livelihoods depend on Borders.  I'm privileged as a student living at home that I could do without my income, but many employees rely on their salary to support their families.  At least now people will have the chance to move on to a job where they aren't constantly looking over their shoulders, wondering when their days of employment will come to and end.  Hopefully I'll be able to stay on through the end of the liquidation so that afterwords I can collect unemployment.  We shall see; right now I'm just hoping that I'll be able to stay on until the end. 

It's been really hot and humid lately which I don't mind except for the fact that I've had a headache for the past couple of days.  I occasionally get cluster headaches; you know the ones where there's that bulging pain behind one of your eyes (for me it's usually my right eye).  I've heard that most headaches come from dehydration but I think a number of factors contribute.  I'd say dehydration is probably the key factor but I also think that abrupt climate change such as increased temperatures and an increase in humidity plays apart.  Personally I also begin to feel headaches if I'm sitting in an air conditioned room for too long.  I find that I need to step outside and breathe fresh air, otherwise my head just starts throbbing.  So basically, my cure is plenty of water, fresh air, and shade.  If you have headaches too I'd recommend caffeine also.  Coffee usually knocks mine out.  I'm hesitant to take pain relievers when I don't have to but sometimes I just don't have a choice and pop a couple of tylenol.  I guess I'm just trying to tell you all what works for me, in case you find yourself suffering from headaches in this heat wave.   On that note I'm going to go step outside. 

Harry Potter.  Finally Going.  So Excited. 

Goodbye Borders.  No bueno.  Great experience. 

Throbbing headache.  Stay hydrated.  Go outside. 

So Many Haters

I've recently noticed a disturbing trend with people in regards to reactions when someone mentions a goal, dream or aspiration.  Doesn't it seem like whenever you share a strong desire to do something that everyone you tell is a nay-sayer?  It's like everybody has to jump to tell you how challenging your new found feat is, or how competitive the field is, or just some negative aspect to you're new found passion.  I feel like I'm not making sense so here's a scenerio.  My friend Dev was telling me about her discussions with certain people about PhD programs in English.  She's very passionate about her desires to be an English professor and has worked very hard over the past couple of years to further herself along this path.  When she recently discussed her desire to complete a PhD she explained to me that she was often received with people telling her how difficult PhD programs are, both with the workload and just being accepted in the first place.  This frustrated Dev because first of all she knew these facts, and second of all she explained to me how it felt like these nay-sayers were saying either that she couldn't do it, or that getting into and completing a PhD program would be very difficult.  Instead of congratulating her and wishing her luck with her new endeavor these people were explaining their doubts and concerns.  To me it just seems like people are quick to shoot down your dreams and aspirations, and not so quick to lend words of support and encouragement.  It really bothers me how people are hard-wired that way.  It's like everyone just focuses on the negative aspects and not the positive happening that an individual is actually actively attempting to follow their dreams and do something extraordinary.  We need more encouragement in our lives and less nay-sayers.  I think it's important that we surround ourselves with those who will be more encouraging, and discard the opinions of those who may be more discouraging.  The sad reality is that we so often have to be our own support systems, because for a lack of a better word, there are so many haters out there. 

Why has this topic hit so close to me you may ask?  And does this sounds semi-familiar if you are an avid reader of my blog (possibly because I think I wrote a similar post in the winter months)?  Well I've recently thought about relocating to a far away place and I've have one nay-sayer very close to home.  No Kyle it's not you I'm writing about, although I know you'll be very sad if I leave and I'll also miss you greatly, but you've been supportive of my plans and I really appreciate it.  Someone else close to home has really been hating on the idea of my relocation; explaining all of the hardships, challenges, and obstacles that would go along with it.  Trust me, I get it.  A whole new place and a whole new way of life, but in the end it's still a society with human beings.  It just bothers me that people aren't always happy and encouraging when I express a desire to do something.  Not that I need such encouragement, but it hurts when I'm attempting to take on a challenge and somebody close to me keeps telling me how difficult it's going to be.  I get it, it'll be really hard, and I still want to do it.  But honestly now that I'm writing this post and thinking about this issue, maybe that's what I need.  Maybe I need  a few haters (although there's more than a few) in my life to make me wonder how bad I really want something.  I mean there will always be doubters and haters, but maybe they actually serve a constructive purpose.  They make us think twice about challenges, and how bad we really want to accomplish difficult feats.  I still don't like it, but maybe doubt and discouragement (if that's even a word) are necessary when us dreamers attempt to start a revolution or make a significant change within our lives.  In any case, I want you as the reader, to think about a time when you expressed a dream, a hope, or desire to others and attempt to recall how it was received.  Think about the initial questions and comments:  'Oh that's a really competitive field...You know as a (insert profession here) you'll have to work really hard...That's going to be a big change, are you sure you're up for it?'  I think more likely then not the negativity comes first and I just wonder why the negativity has to come first.  After writing this post I'm starting to think it's necessary in order to test individuals on their desire to fulfill their dreams and goals, but I still just want to yell 'shut the (expletive) up!' every time I hear someone doubting me. 

Finally Found My Passion

Do you ever have a number of things that you have to accomplish-none of them super pressing-but you don't know where to begin?  That's the boat I'm in right now, a bunch of semi long-term goals that I need to accomplish but I don't know where to start.  Sure I want to work on my manuscript and I also want to begin unit planning for the fall.  But at the same time I want to do research for an upcoming big change in my life.  Is it weird that I'm scared and or intimidated by these pretty large, long-term tasks?  Is my procrastination here normal?  And if so does it mean that I don't really want to make the unit plans, or write my book, or make a big life change?  That's a glimpse into my head right now and what's going on there.  I should probably just take the rational approach and at random choose one thing at a time and just start working on it.  Of course when emotions, nerves, and anxieties are involved it's rarely and option to follow the path of logic.  That's one of the many beauties of life though (at least in this part of the world):  often times you have the option of choosing your own path.  Sometimes I honestly wish it was just mapped out for me and that by now I would have had a steady income, secure job, and money in the bank.  Too bad some of us take a little while to discover their passions while others know their life direction from a young age. 

During undergrad everyone always said, 'Major what you're passionate in.'  At that point I was passionate about sports, girls, and sitting on a beach on a tropical island and relaxing.  I also didn't have the ability to think out of the box and find a way where I could work my passions into a steady career.  So I took a general major in liberal arts and got my BA.  Then took a year off and figured out that teaching would be my direction.  Don't get me wrong, I really enjoy teaching and I think that I'll be very successful at it, but lately I've really just wanted to focus on writing.  Recently I've wanted to do nothing except for write full time (well plus other fun activities and exercise mixed in but regarding my career I want to write full-time).  Sometimes I wish that I had just forgone the teacher's certificate and just gone for an MFA (Master's in Fine Arts) in Creative Writing.  It's not too late but I've just been bothered by the fact that I finally feel like I've found my passion, in the field of writing, and yet again I've wasted more schooling following something that I'm not 100% into.  Teaching will be great and I know I'll be happy doing it, I just know I'd be happier writing that's all.  Of course I can't change the past, as much as I'd like to, but I can't help but wonder how my life would have been different if I made some different decisions with my past.  For instance, what if I had majored in English Lit in Undergrad?  Would I have discovered my passion for writing sooner?  Would I have even dared to major in English being that when I was an undergrad I didn't read for pleasure at all?  And why start at undergrad; what if I had discovered my passion for writing earlier, in middle or high school.  I could have started writing so much earlier and been so much farther with my craft than I am today.  So many 'what ifs' that it's difficult to find them all. 

This whole passion discovery process is a bit disheartening because it makes me feel like I didn't even know myself for the first twenty two and a half years of my life.  Whenever I would hear people talking about finding themselves I would think, 'That's such bullshit, who doesn't know themselves?'  I always felt like I knew myself well and knew what I wanted but now that I look back on the decisions that I made and the direction that I'm, currently moving in nothing from my past adds up.  It's weird thinking that for so long I was making all of these decisions thinking they were the right ones for me when now I see that so many of my major life decisions in the past were pretty poor.  Hopefully as I age I'll grow wiser, and I honestly feel like I am.  I really hope that I've found my passion with writing because quite frankly I'm sick of changing my direction in life.  I want to go somewhere, find a career, build a life, and in 50 years look back and be happy with that life.  I'm pretty sure that's what most people want, but how many people are actually content with their lives and the decisions that they make when they look back?  I have a few major life decisions coming up within the next year, let's hope that I've learned from my past mistakes. 

Wii Dance Parties to Come

It's beautiful out and I have to go to work, boo on that.  Today would be the ay to call out; I wish I didn't have any integrity.   So last night I watched the The Kite Runner on Netflix and I really enjoyed it.  I thought the movie was very well done and that it very closely related to the book.  I loved both of Khaled Hosseini's books, Kite Runner and A Thousand Splendid Suns and I highly recommend both books.  Hosseini does an excellent job telling the grim tale of life in Afghanistan under different oppressive regimes (Soviets and the Taliban) and does a nice job combining a story and a history lesson about a country that's been through so many changes.  I read the books first and then last night watched the movie.  If you're at all curious about the history of Afghanistan over the last 40-50 years of if you're simply looking for a fascinating story or movie I'd highly recommend the books and the movie.  Be prepared for sad tells and graphic descriptions of violence, but if you can handle such things than you'll likely enjoy Hosseini's works...

That was the start of yesterday's post that was never finished due to internet complications.  Now I'm back and able to put together some more words.  A couple of nights ago I went out and bought a Nintendo Wii for my mom (well I didn't really buy it, it's her money but I went to the store and purchased it and brought it home).  My mom wants to begin exercising and has decided that she wants to try out the Wii because some of her co-workers have told her that it's both fun and a provides a suitable workout.   A few of my friends were really excited when I told them about the edition of a Wii to my household and swore that we could have to play Just Dance in the near future.  My mom had The Michael Jackson Experience which I hear is also very fun.  In short, there are soon to be numerous Wii dance parties in my household; that is of course unless my mom grows frustrated with the new technology and decides to return it.  I hope that she doesn't return the Wii or the Mario Cart game that came with it but we shall see. 

My internet failed me at the most unfortunate of times.  So much to say yesterday.  Wait, it's coming back to me.  Last night the last installment of the Harry Potter movies came out.  Now I consider myself an avid fan (sometimes referring to myself as a Harry Pothead) but not to the point that I would wait in line for hours so that I could see the movie on opening night.  I've only been to one or two opening night showings of movies and I really don't enjoy them.  The theatre is always packed and when there's a line you usually get stuck with the worst seats in the house (usually the front row) and you're lucky if you get seats with your friends.  Personally I'd rather just wait a week and go see it with friends where the theatre won't be packed to maximum capacity.  That being said I am still very anxious to see the new Harry Potter movie.  When I read Deathly Hallows all I could think of was how awesome that battle for Hogwarts would be on the big screen.  I can't wait to go and see the conclusion to the book series that turned me onto reading.  The Harry Potter series provided me with an amazing feeling; the feeling that I literally could not put a book down.  Sadly this feeling came when I was nearly 23 years old, but better to have this feeling late then to never have had it at all.  There are certain people and things in life that can do no wrong in my eyes.  Harry Potter  is one of those things.  I don't care what criticisms will be present for the new film because no matter what I will love it.  Hopefully I'll get my first chance to see it soon.  Time to go enjoy this beautiful day. 

Yonni the Yogi?

I was quite proud of yesterday's post which was surprising because I was very rushed while I wrote it.  It was right before I had to leave for work so I tried very hard to put together a worthwhile post in a short period of time.  Maybe I should always restrict myself to a time limit when I write.  Could it be that my best writing comes when I'm under pressure?  Do I come up big in the clutch, Mr. Big Shot?  Time will tell friends.  I'm sure it didn't hurt that I wasn't writing late at night either.  My brain was firing on all cylinders because it was mid-day and not pre-bed time.   Hence why I'm writing again in the afternoon as opposed to later tonight. 

This morning began with another Yoga session, but this time at a lovely studio in the West Chesterish area called Play.   I had a really nice experience with the class (a friend invited me to come check it out) and afterwords we sat down with the owner for a little bit and talked.  She's a lovely lady who's really into Yoga and she has a great space for both Yoga and children's art classes (I personally think she brings the two concepts together nicely).  She also gave me tips for handstands after the class had ended; excellent stuff.  Today was a beginner's class but I did pretty well so next time I'll probably go for the advanced class and it may be the hot yoga.  I told my friend Dev that it may be gross because I sweat a lot but she assured me that everyone sweats a lot and not to worry.  Either way I've really taken a liking to Yoga and I was surprised when the Instructor told me that in order to be an instructor one only needs 200 hours of practice (sure 200 is a lot but still doable).  Wouldn't that be crazy if I was a part time Yoga instructor; Yonni the Yogi haha.  Who knows what the future holds; I'm just glad that I discovered a new healthy and fun hobby that I can combine with exercise. 

This afternoon I watched Hemingway's Garden of Eden.  I'm a big fan of Ernie and his writing so naturally I was intrigued and interested to see this movie.  Then a friend of mine saw it and suggested it further influencing me to Netflix the movie.  Overall I enjoyed the movie, except for the fact that the DVD stopped working about 15 minutes before the ending.  No worries, I'll have my friend fill me in on the ending.  Side note: This movie watching experience further soured my current feelings towards Netflix.  They're upping the priice of my plan from $10.59 to $15.98.  WTF Netflix, some of us are poor students who can't shell out big bucks for entertainment.  Woop di do that you put all the movie stores out of business; congratulations.  Doesn't mean you have to get all big in the britches and up your prices by 50%.  Anyway, I'd have to say that my favorite part of the movie was the actress playing Marita, Caterina Murino.  Sadly google images isn't doing her justice but I'll try to find a picture that really captures her beauty.  This woman is just about my perfect type:  Dark skin, dark hair, ethnic, and she's got curves (not a fan of the super skinny look myself).  Ok here's a picture of her all dolled up:

I'm a fan; why isn't this actress in more movies that I've seen?  She was in Casino Royale but she had a minor role as a married woman who Bond lured into his bed.  So I should probably give a semi-professional review of Garden of Eden but it was difficult to focus on the movie and not on Caterina.  Anyway, the movie was shot well and directed well, and correlated nicely to the main scenes and ideas from the novel.  If you're a fan of the book or of dramas depicting life in the early twentieth century then I would recommend the movie.  It's a very interesting spin on the concept of marriage and relationships.  But seriously, Hollywood needs to start putting Caterina Murino in more movies; just saying, I'd see any movie with her in it. 

I Need a Pause Button for Life

After a couple of requests for a post I've decided to crank something out before work.  Let me begin by using that cliche saying, 'There just aren't enough hours in the day,' or something along those lines.  For instance today I woke up at a reasonable hour, ate breakfast, and then began to do some cleaning tasks around the house.  After that a friend of mine came over for a little bit and we caught up.  I intended to exercise before work but time ran out and it just wouldn't be possible for me to get an hour-long workout in, write a post, and shower before work.  Either there aren't enough hours in the day or I'm too productive; the latter or which may be true (conceited much?).  I'm definitely not too productive; a friend of mine has two jobs and she makes me feel like a lazy bum.  Oh well, I'll work out when I get home; but I'll feel guilty because I'll have to shower again and I don't like to waste water by showering more than once a day( fun fact).  You may be thinking why not just skip the shower now, and you know what that idea sounds more appealing by the second.  I mean come on, why does that individual that serves you coffee have to be clean?  Not like he'll be handling your food and drink with his care hands or anything (actually for food there's a wax paper barrier but I think it's think enough for bad ass germies and bacteria to penetrate).  Working out late night can be nice because it takes all my energy and then I usually sleep soundly. 

Random twist: today when I was cleaning my room I spotted the dream log that I put next to my bed months ago in an attempt to record any interesting dreams that I actually recall in the morning.  Either I haven't had any interesting dreams while here or I haven't been conscious enough to report my dreams but so far here are no entries in my dream log.  Sometimes I wish I could recall more of my dreams; but then would the be so special.  I envy people who recall more of their dreams; then again not all of my dreams are all that nice.  For instance, I've been shot down by girls in my dreams, how sad is that.  It's like rejection has become a natural part of my subconscious.  No worries, as I've aged I've become steadily more successful with the ladies.  So does that mean that when I'm eighty I'll be like Hef? Maybe, but I'm not huge on blondes...crazy right?

Last night I saw X-Men: First Class.  I was extremely excited for this movie and unfortunately it fell short of my expectations.  Don't get me wrong, very good movie; I just wish they hadn't shown the submarine part in the trailer and that I didn't hear the review claiming that it was just as good if not better than Dark Knight, taking the top spot as the best comic book movie.  Definitely no Dark Knight, but still a quality movie with some nice bits of acting from some up and comers.  I especially liked the guy who played Magneto and the kid who played Banshee with the acting.  Jennifer Lawerence slightly disappointed me...could mean bad things for Hunger Games.  Not that she was bad but she was just too ordinary.  She better come out of her shell for Hunger Games where she'll be the overall lead; not just the female lead.  If you're a fan of the X-Men series I highly recommend the movie.  It reveals a lot about many of the characters, and what events lead to their more contemporary conditions.  New characters are very cool but not too many new powers that we haven't seen before.  Very good movie and prequel to the series but it was no Dark Knight.  I'm excited to see Transformers now to see which summer Blockbuster action movie takes the cake for me.  I could limp Harry Potter into that mix but I love HP so much that I consider it more of a drama than an action movie (I know I'm going to catch flack for that comment). 

Yoga's Kicking my Butt

Cookout last night turned out well; another Israeli themed meal.  I made chicken on wooden skewers with beef kebobs, grated carrot salad (thanks to my cousin's recipe), garden salad, and my mom made potato salad and rice.  Quite a feast that was enjoyed by few but no worries; next time more will enjoy my cooking.  I've really grown to like cooking.  Funny how one of my New Year's resolutions was to cook something new every week and it only took me half of the year to actually begin following through on my resolution. 


Yesterday I also did the P90X Yoga exercise and wow was it challenging.  I've developed a new found respect of yoga experts (or masters or whatever you call them.  I couldn't even do a number of the positions and I often struggles with the poses that I could complete.  It's funny because two of my friends have suggested that I get into Yoga recently and then yesterday it just happened to be part of my program.  The two poses that I struggles the most with were crane and warrior 3.  And then after warrior 3 I had to touch the ground with one hand and point to the sky with the other; brutal.  Let me see if I can find pictures on google images...Ok here it goes I'll attach pictures of the two poses. 

I really struggles with these, especially when warrior 3 called for me to put one arm down and point one arm up to the ceiling.  In any case I'm really enjoying P90X, even though I'm really struggling with it.  It's a challenge and I'm happy that I've chosen to take it on.  Hopefully I'll continue to move closer to the results that I'm looking for.  Today I was worried about doing the leg workout because my legs were really sore earlier today but luckily they limbered up in time for the workout.  I'm much more sore during these workouts than I was during the Insanity workouts.  Probably because I'm using more weights with this program, but also I think Insanity did a nicer job with a proper warm up and cool down, with the appropriate stretching for both.  In P90X stretching is more ambiguous and ballistic, meaning stretching by moving not by standing still.  Either way, I'm enjoying the workout and I look forward to what's to come with it.  

I really need to go to the movies soon.  I desperately want to see X-Men (probably seeing it tomorrow night), Transformers, and the new Harry Potter.  I'm really excited for all of the movies so hopefully I can get to the theatre soon and catch up on some new movies.  I'll also be able to give reviews on here after I go and watch the movies.  

Morning work.  So tired.  Sleepy time. 

Gaga Karaoke

This morning kicked off with a weekly breakfast with friends; a tradition I began this year.  Once a week I've had two to three friends over for breakfast.  Today was either the third or fourth breakfast of the year and it was excellent.  I made an Israeli style breakfast:  eggs, chopped vegetable salad, toast, tuna, hummus, and an assortment of cheeses.  Of course mine deviated a tad because I made scrambled eggs and in the classic Israeli breakfast two-egg omlets are served.  I was also limited with my cheese selection so I put out Philadelphia cream cheese, feta, and cottage cheese so that there would be an assortment.  Sid and Cynth really liked it and out of everything I was most proud of my tuna salad.  I found a recipe online that called for sweet relish and mayonnaise to combine with the tuna fish.  So delicious; I never want to have tuna without relish again and I highly recommend it to you tuna lovers out there.  

I also did another P90X session today that ended with the ab program which totally put me to shame.  The ab moves are so difficult and I really struggled.  Hopefully as time goes on I'll get more used to the moves so that I'll be able to improve.  It kind of sucks because I feel like I'm in good shape but every once in a while a new workout with new moves makes me feel like I'm in terrible shape.  No worries; I'm sure that in time I'll be able to do the workout to perfection.  With challenging workouts it's important to just do your best and improve.  Like Tony Horton says, 'Do your best and forget the rest,' (that's about the only thing that he says that isn't super annoying, I miss Shawn T from Insanity). 

Tonight I met up with an old friend that I hadn't seen for a while and I was pleasantly surprised by the company that he's keeping these days.  I'm a big fan of his lady and I hope that this time she stays around for good.  So we all went to a bar and Sid came out too.  At this particular bar they had karaoke and it's something that I always wanted to do.  Now for those who know me, you know I have no shame, don't care what others think, and don't mind making a fool out of myself.  So naturally I'm made for karaoke.  Anyway, I was all for it and so Pablo's lady selected a song and I was up.  It was a tough choice but in the end I had to go with my heart and I went with the gaga.  Paul was surprised at how well I sang Bad Romance, haha, I still can't believe I did it.  So much fun; I highly recommend that everyone try karaoke at least once in their lives.  I didn't get booed off which was nice and people actually clapped.  Overall a great night; glad to see an old friend and glad that he's finally got his head on straight when it comes to the ladies. 

Red Shirt?

Today was a semi-productive day.  After I woke up I watched some Sportscenter (used to be my morning routine but it's been so long since I've made the effort to watch it.  That's probably because the only highlights right now are baseball so I'm not really dying to see them.  No football and no basketball gives me a hiatus from sports).  After that I did the plyometrics workout in P90X.  The plyo workout is very similar to Insanity so it was nice to do something that I felt a little more familiar with.  Still I'm enjoying the challenge of trying something new with P90X, especially since my chest and arms are still sore from the workout two days ago.  Hopefully they won't feel too sore tomorrow when I do another upper body workout.  I'm totally becoming a junkie for workouts on DVD.  Oh well, as long as I don't push my body past it's limits working out is one drug that I'm alright with. 

After that I went to my sister's house to both copy all of the picture discs from Israel and to catch up on some TV shows (she has premium channels and I don't :( so I have to go to her house to watch many of the shows that I like).  Today I watched the first two episodes of Weeds Season 7 and the first episode of True Blood Season 4.  Both seasons have started out very well especially Weeds.  I probably say that because I like Weeds more than True Blood and Season 6 of Weeds wasn't very good so I was glad to see the show bounce back to its former glory.  I'm excited for both shows and to see how the seasons will turn out.  I'd recommend both shows if you find yourself bored this summer but take caution that you may be confused if you are jumping in without watching them from the beginning (like most TV shows spanning more than one season). 

Today I threw in a load of laundry but didn't give it enough time to dry.  All of my work shirts were in today's load and I didn't realize this until about ten minutes before work.  So I was faced with a conundrum: Wear a white t-shirt to work, white waffle shirt to work (too hot for that), or a polo of a different color.  I settled on wearing a red polo, not caring if any of the managers would give me crap for it.  Surprisingly everyone was happy to see a cafe worker sporting some color.  We're always in either black or white so color is quite a change for us.  Most of the other employees were surprised to see me in red; it was funny, almost like I started a revolution.  My co-workers upstairs said that they're probably going to follow my lead and start to rock colors in the future.  It's funny how in life we all have our routines and when somebody breaks their routine everyone notices.  I think it would be fun if everyone started wearing brighter colors so I'll have to pay attention and see if any of my coworkers follow in my revolution. 

Beach Day Recap

Went to the beach today with a few platonic female friends and it was an excellent day.  We stopped off and got fruit on the way before going to the state park next to Seaside Heights, NJ.  I know what you're thinking when I say seaside: Jersey Shore.  But let me tell you the state park there is amazing; clearest water I've ever seen in NJ.  Plus it's clean, quiet, and not at all crowded.  I'm a big fan of it, and I'm really happy that my one friend introduced me to it.

The waves today were excellent which I love because when I go to the beach my favorite thing to do is to go in the water and ride the waves.  I never quite understood people who go to the beach and don't go in the water but hey, to each his/her own.  Today's beach day was so great because everyone went in the water, numerous times I might add.  We also played some frisbee, a fun new card game (drawing a blank on the name), read a little bit, and overall had a great time.  We ended the beach day with pizza at Sid's Aunt & Uncle's house.  Such a nice ending to an excellent beach day. 

For me everything's better at the beach.  I just love the water, the waves, and the sand.  Plus there's usually a nice breeze coming off the water so it's almost never unbearably hot on the beach and when that's the case you can bring an umbrella and there's always the water right in front to cool you off.  At some point in my life I hope that I'll have the ability to live right on or at least very close to the beach.  In Israel we went to the beach a lot too and people would say, 'You're going to the beach again?'  Of course we went as much as possible, why wouldn't we.  It was our vacation and why sit in the house or walk around town when you could be on the beach.  In short, I love the beach and I hope that I can get back soon.  And as much as it pains me to say this, Jersey is underrated.  Everyone calls Jersey gross, and although I'm not at all a fan of the state, if you look there are some very nice beaches out there.  State park is probably the nicest I've been to between Jersey and Delaware but hey, it's what we've got so we might as well enjoy it more than bitch about it.  So tired, a day in the sun will do that to you. 

Still jetlagged.  Up early.  Good start.

Bought fruit.  Hit road.  Beach time. 

Overcast day.  Alittle cold.  Sun's Hiding. 

Big waves.  Fun rides.  Best part. 

Dinner time.  Shore pizza.  Perfect ending. 

Beach Tomorrow!!!!!!!!!

Tomorrow I'm going to the beach and I'm very excited.  Not like I didn't get enough beach time in Israel (and I still have the tan to prove it) but seriously I'm trying to get as much beach time in as possible this summer.  Last summer I didn't get a ton of beach time in besides the week down the shore and a couple days in Israel, so this year I'm trying to use my days off more wisely.  I think the toughest thing about beach days is finding people who are free to go during the week (usually when I have time off).  I often thought about going alone but after a while I just get bored.  Sure I could bring a couple of books or my journal but to drive an hour and a half to read and write; I don't know.  Then again, it's the beach and who doesn't want to always be at the beach?  I actually know a couple of people like that and it confuses me, but nevertheless I still love them. 

I started P90X today and I must say that I enjoyed Insanity more.  I think Sean T does a better job of explaining all the moves and taking you through them slowly so that you can get your form down well.  I also like the pace of Insanity better because it's a steady and consistent pace.  With Insanity you have a certain time limit for every exercise and you do the exercise until the time is up or if you have to stop you take a rest and then come back to it.  With P90X it's more of a program where before each lift you set a goal for yourself and you attempt to reach that goal in the allotted time.  In addition, if you reach your goal before the time is up and you still have the energy for more reps you have the option of surpassing your goal.  In theory it sounds nice but after a first run I wasn't huge on it.  I'll have to get used to it, just something new.  I do however like the challenging nature of the moves and I look forward to the new program.  lots of pullups and pushups; both exercises that I want to make strides in. 

Jetlag is kicking my ass right now, but has also allowed me to sleep really well the past couple of nights.  Sunday night I slept a lot, around 9 and a half hours and I felt so rested.  Then last night I only banked about seven hours but I woke up feeling fully rested right before my alarm went off.  Tonight I should get around eight hours and I'm good with that.  It's weird though because I seem to remember jetlag not having such an effect on me.  Then again I only travel to Israel once a year and I don't keep that detailed a log of my sleeping habits and fatigue so who knows.  In any case, I hope that in the near future my fatigue will subside and I can return to my normal, high energy self. 

Beach day.  Friends coming.  Fun times.

Worked tonight.  Cloudy future.  Not worried. 

Feeling fatigued.  Jetlag wins.  Increased sleep. 

Computer up and Running

I don't think we realize how much we actually rely on technology until we don't have it at our grasp at all times.  I didn't realize how much I used my computer until I no longer had the ability to use it due to my hard drive going bye bye.  Oh well, now I have it back and I'm oh so happy about it.  My desire to blog was so strong when I didn't have my computer, funny how things work out that way.  The downed hard drive also but a halt to the novel-writing process but not to worry, I'll be making my triumphant return to my novel in no time. 

So hard to write a legitimate post right now because so much has happened in the recent past.  Israel was great; the wedding, time with family, excursions, all of it.  Such a special visit that really had a strong impact on me.  I find myself considering a move back to the holy land more than ever, and the current status of the job market in PA for teachers is only more fuel to fire my return to the holy land.  I'll be thinking a lot on this topic and a decision one way could turn my world upside down, and it may also be the best decision that I'll ever make.  Stay tuned to see what happens.

Today at work I had an awkward run-in with a random customer.  She was an Israeli woman who had apparently heard from someone working downstairs that I had just gotten back from Israel.  So she came up asking for someone named Shy (a popular Jewish name) and I assured her that nobody named Shy worked at the Cafe.  She then looked at me like I had eight heads and asked again but I assured her that nobody named Shy worked at the cafe.  Finally she asked if there was an Israeli person working at the Cafe and I said yes that's me, and she explained how people downstairs had told her that a store employee had mentioned me.  At this point I thought maybe she had a specific question or something to talk about with me but instead she just asked me a couple of questions about my visit.  I answered and I would have spoken to her for longer (as I do with any friendly customer) but other customers came up and I had to help them.

She walked away and sat down, leaving me feeling super awkward about the interaction.  I mean sure she was probably being nice, just trying to say hi to a fellow Israeli.  It just seemed like she had something specific to say to me or to ask me but she never got it out.  I was even going to go over to her after my shift ended to ask if there was anything she wanted to talk about or say to me but she left before I had the chance.   Maybe I'm just being an asshole but I just felt like it was kind of an awkward interaction.  It's like , 'Hey someone downstairs told me that you and I are of the same ethnic background so I'm going to strike up a random conversation with you.  It seems like I have a point but not really, or maybe I do have a point and I just never made it.'  Maybe I'm not writing this well but I don't know.  Can you feel the awkwardness of this interaction? She seemed nice but it was just a little odd. 

Oh well, just another day at work.  Hopefully my hard drive will hold up so the blogging can continue.

Slept awhile.  Worked early.  Feeling Ok. 

Grilled food.  Want some.  Weekend Cookout.

New workout.  Start soon.  Get Jacked.

Beautiful Day.  Love Summer.  Read Outside. 

Miss Israel.  Especially beer.  Love Goldstar.