All quiet

They've made some sort of weird traffic pattern over by the bookstore, which means that i have to do a bit of a run around to get on the road home. Also, B&N just opened a new store in Hamilton. Both of these things are eating away at business, and they're cutting hours rather heavily. I was scheduled for this Thursday, but asked me to cut my hours. I have a feeling that the store won't be around this time next year, which is a shame. I've met many great people, and learned a lot, but I suppose nothing lasts forever. Granted, I could be way off.
I was hoping that this girl who has been coming to the store regularly every tuesday would be there tonight, but she wasn't. I wouldn't normally take notice of customers(or remember them 15 minutes after i see them), but she's been overly polite to me everytime she buys something, making eye contact and chatting and generally being pleasant(not untypical for customers to be nice, but this borders on flirting). I may just be imagining things, but my gut says that there may be something there. Of course, my gut has been wrong before. I do dig her though. We'll see if she's around next week. I'm trying to think of an appropriate way of asking her for coffee or something, but there really isn't. It's just kinda weird, really, if i do. Unless, I catch her at the store when I'm not working. That might be an in...
On a completely unrelated note, Sick Day and I were talknig about ghosts and such. I think they exist in some way or another, but I'm not really a big fan. Not even for entertainment purposes. Thus, I've decided that I'm never living in an old house. Why increase the chances of living in a place that's haunted?

Back home

After driving halfway across the eastern seaboard of the US, I am back on home ground, My parents and I drove through the night Wednesday evening to arrive in Knoxville at 8am THXgiving day. We were knocked out tired, but we stuffed ourselves silly on my sister's great cooking.
We managed to fill the time Friday and Saturday by looking at real estate and dreaming. Tennessee is such a fantastically beautiful part of the country...so many rivers and lakes, not to mention the smokies. Knoxville itself has grown tremondously in just a year since i was there.
We had raclette with some of my sisters friends last night. Raclette is a typical Swiss meal of melted cheese and potatoes; it couldn't get more swiss unless they wrapped a watch with it.
The drive was actually quite easy today...no major jams anywhere, or 20-car pileups. Which is nice.

Trunk Monkey

The Trunk Monkey just may be the funniest thing ever. There are apparently four commercials in the series, and the last one had me tearing up.

Finally

I went to the Princeton record exchange tonight and managed to find everything i was looking for. I finally got my paws on the Jeff Buckley DVD "Live in Chicago". This thing rocks! That guy was a singular talent, and I wonder what he could have been thinking diving into the Mississippi. God knows what kind of beauty he could have created. This DVD has an amazing version of "Hallelulah." If you dig Jeff Buckley, I highly recommed this DVD. (If you do, you prolly have it already, I guess.)
I also managed to find a used copy of the "Lost in Translation" soundtrack, something I've been trying to track down for months. Listened to a little bit of it on the way home. It has Bill Murray doing his karioke version of "More than this."
These finds have turned what was a blah day into a pretty good one.

Go Gators!

The Gators didn't choke! They beat FSU at their own house. I was getting worried there for a second, as FSU had the ball in the last minute of the game, they had a quaterback, Chris Rix, who is all too familiar with sticking that dagger right through the Gators' hopes, and they had the Gator defense to play against, who has managed to lose two games this season in the last few seconds of the game.
However, they stepped up big and intercepted Rix with 18 seconds left. It's the first time in 18 years that the Gators have won at FSU, and it gave Zook a nice exit.
I've put some more photos up on Flickr.

Snow coming down sideways

I bought the new album by Snow Patrol, called Final Straw. We've played it a few times at the store, and I'm really digging it. I can't really categorize what it is, but suffice it to say, it's Brit pop.
Also, just went to see the movie Sideways, based on the novel of the same name by Rex Pickett, which I also picked up at the store.
I really dug the movie, and I can kinda relate to the Miles character...I wonder if I'll end up like him when I'm 40. What a prospect.
There are a few scenes in it that highlight missed opportunity, and it's almost painful to watch...there was an audible groan throughout the audience. It was like having a perfect opportunity for connection being offered on a plate, but then closing off and then hiding behind safe walls. It makes you really feel for Miles.
I don't want to spoil too much. Go see it.

Wicked cool ride

A cube neighbor and I were having a discussion of cool cars. Not necessarily the Ferraris and the Porsches, as any tool with money can get one of those, but cars that denote a sense of style and taste. I've come up with a short list so far and will add to it over time.
In no particular order:
1) Alfa Romeo 1600 Duetto Spider - Photo - Used in the movie "The Graduate."
2) Ferrari 250 GT California - Info - Used in "Ferris Bueller's Day Off." It's a collector's item...beautiful, timeless style.
3) Citroen SM - Info - It's French, but cool regardless. Plus, Maserati had a hand in it.
4) BMW 2002 Tii - Info - The 1972, with the round tail lamps, is tops.

A joke

As told to me by my friend in the cube next door:
Q: What does a manic depressive write in a post card to his Therapist?
A: I'm having a great time! I wish I were dead.

Also, in a quest for irony: whenever someone says "Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never harm me," hit them with a dictionary.

long day

I had a feeling that working both jobs while jet lagged would be a drag. I was right! Two people called out, which meant that a total of three people worked in the store from 8-11. Thankfully, the store wasn't too busy, as the night could have sucked much worse.

I am tired and smell of airplane

The flight home was a brisk 8.5 hours. I'm trying to force myself to stay awake so that I can get rid of this jet lag as quick as possible. I have a feeling this post will be just a bit more disjointed than most. Bear with me. There's a risk, while on vacation, that you view the area you vacation in with rose colored glasses. You see only the good stuff and let the reality slide. But each time I go, the feeling of "why the hell am i leaving this place for NJ for" grows stronger. It fades eventually, but i suspect it may take longer this time. We'll see. I know one thing for sure; I love all the different cars they have there...those that we'll most likely never see here in the states.
Before I check out for the night, I wanted to leave a link. Check out Sorry Everybody for your daily dose of cynicism. You can take even leave your own note there...

That didn`t hurt!

Managed to make it over to salzburg without causing bodily injury to myself or to anyon in the near vicinity. I flew into germany, and the securit was unusally picky. He was asking what my trip is for and where i live. Then he asked how i got the austrian citizenship. I told him that I got it through my father. He decided to be witty and said, "didn`t your father teach you any german?" I said " Yes, but you asked me all the questions in english," which cracked him up.
So, thankfully, I`m not in jail, and I`ve got to enjoy aa totally kick ass dinner at my friend`s, and his girlfriend`s, apartment. Tomorrow, we plan to tour the city. More to follow. Not quite coherent at the moment. Has taken all my concentration to write these few sentences.

I took some pictures

I took some pictures of my trip and put them on Flickr.
Take a look.

One good, one bad

Here's some good news:
Ashcroft, Evans Resign From Bush Cabinet
Tempered by some bad news:
Bush Looking Anew for Alaska Oil Drilling
I got this from S. Check out http://www.cscs.umich.edu/~crshalizi/election/ for maps and cartograms of the 2004 elections. Details the results of the election in excruciating detail, but it does kind of point to what Sick Day was saying...even though the south went for bush, there were still pockets of resistance, and at least 40% voted for Kerry.

If you don't have anything to worry about yet, here's something

I got this info in an email. If you want the full email, so that you can sign, write to me at Mgmystic@yahoo.com.
President Bush has announced his plan to select Dr. W. David Hager to
head up the Food and Drug Administration's (FDA) Reproductive Health
Drugs Advisory Committee. The committee has not met for more than two
years, during which time its charter lapsed. As a result, the Bush
Administration is tasked with filling all eleven positions with new
members. This position does not require Congressional approval. The
FDA's Reproductive Health Drugs Advisory Committee makes crucial
decisions on matters relating to drugs used in the practice of
obstetrics, gynecology and related specialties, including hormone
therapy, contraception, treatment for infertility, and medical
alternatives to surgical procedures for sterilization and pregnancy
termination.
Dr. Hager, the author of "As Jesus Cared for Women: Restoring Women
Then and Now." The book blends biblical accounts of Christ healing
Women with case studies from Hager's practice. His views of
reproductive health care are far outside the mainstream for
reproductive technology. Dr. Hager is a practicing OB/GYN who
describes himself as "pro-life" and refuses to prescribe
contraceptives to unmarried women. In the book Dr.Hager wrote with his
wife, entitled "Stress and the Woman's Body," he suggests that women
who suffer from premenstrual syndrome should seek help from reading
the bible and praying. As an editor and contributing author of "The
Reproduction Revolution: A Christian Appraisal of Sexuality
Reproductive Technologies and the Family," Dr. Hager appears to have
endorsed the medically inaccurate assertion that the common birth
control pill is an abortifacient.
We are concerned that Dr. Hager's strong religious beliefs may color
his assessment of technologies that are necessary to protect women's
lives to preserve and promote women's health. Hager's track record of
using religious beliefs to guide his medical decision-making makes him
a dangerous and inappropriate candidate to serve as chair of this
committee. Critical drug public policy and research must not be held
hostage by antiabortion politics. Members of this important panel
should be appointed on the basis of science and medicine, rather than
politics and religion. American women deserve no less.

My hometown

It's been a long day, traveling from one end of switzerland to the other. We took a trek down to the town where my mother's family came from, and where I was born. Solothurn is desinged like a typical old european city; an old city center, surrounded by a wall, and new, modern growth on the perimeter. They used to have gates that they used to close in the evening (I imagine this was centuries ago.) The city is intersected by the Aare river, and built in the shadow of one of the bigger mountain ranges of Switzerland. I never had much of a connection to this place, as we left when I was six months old. However, for some odd reason, I have a feeling that my love of rivers and mountains somehow derives from this town. So, I suppose that's my connection.
We got to see this place on a special day, as there was an outdoor market, and although it was cold, there were plenty of people.
Am kinda tired now.

The gravity-defying, steel-tube thing worked!

Right now, I'm looking over the lights of montreux. During the day, it's one of the best views I've ever seen, but during the evening, it's just as interesting. So many different colored lights out there, and they shine like jewels; The only jewels I really have an interest in.
Yesterdday, I ate something called a malakoff...fried cheesy goodness. I'm not doing it justice if i call it only "fried cheese." You get a piece of bread, put on a cheese batter dough (I couldn't quite figure out how they made it, and the only reason they'd ever give you the recipe if they plan on killing you later.), and then deep fry. One wouldn't be enough, two is just right, but three might cause your heart to claw its way out of your chest and run screaming for its life.
I think we've managed to finish off at least four bottles of wine in two days. That's the nice thing about this area of switzerland, as you can't throw a rock without hitting a vineyard. And it ain't even half bad.
In Europe, the reaction to the election was just as I expected: devasted and disappointed. I'm amazed about how much coverage Europe gave to the election. We spent all of yesterday talking about the election and making fun of bush.
There's a headline in Britain's Daily Mirror that says "How can 59 million people be so dumb?"
I have a bit more to write, but not tonight.

landlocked country, here I come!

So, tomorrow I fly over the sea to Switzerland. I'm pretty excited about thetrip, but it's tempered by the fact i have to fly there. Not too big a fan of that. However, if one looks at it logically, there's nothing to fear.
I plan on borrowing my mom's digital camera so that i can get down in zeroes and ones where I come from. I haven't taken very many pictures in the last few years, so i want to document my life somewhat. So, after a few more hours at the bookstore, I'll plunk down some cash for a camera.
I can't wait to walk around aimlessly through Geneva and Montreaux. Plus, it'll be fun to see family again.
Went to the bookstore tonight and got some books for the trip. Took way longer than I wanted to, but I guess i got some decent stuff. A Dean Koontz book, and "The Princess Bride." It was also nice to talk to S. about politics and Tennessee.
I just finished two loads of laundry, so I'll be all clean and shiny while I'm there.
Also, Sick Day: not too big a fan of the vodka by itself, much prefer it mixed with something...and great assessment about the race for 2008. However, I have a feeling Mrs. Clinton may try for it. However, if the past can predict the future, you may be right. four long years to go.

A mandate??

The dude actually thinks he has a mandate when close to half the country chose not to re-elect him. I guess he expects democrats to take it and like it, too. He actually expects democrats to support him and help him do the exact things they oppose. He can take that mandate and shove it, frankly.

A quote to sum up

From Mark Twain:
"It is best to keep your mouth shut and be presumed ignorant than to open it and remove all doubt."

So, that happened

I was going to post this this morning, and in the meantime, Kerry conceded, giving Bush the win. Very disappointed, and am not looking forward to what this administration can do with 4 more years...
Anyway, the old post:

They are still harping over the results in Ohio, but come on! It's done.
I'll be quite interested to see what this administration can offer us over the next four years. They'll have a hard time topping what they've already done: let's see, wars, destruction, huge deficits, a widening gap between rich and poor so that we'll eventually end up like Mexico, colored terrorist threat warnings, and a level of anti-americanism never before seen (which BTW, is almost solely attributable to the administration, especially Bush, but also the neocon, never-been-to-war, ivy-league-classroom war makers Cheney, Rumsfeld and Wolfowitz.
I made a prediction that there'd be some kind of war after he was first elected. This time, my prediction is that he'll be impeached somehow, as one of his lies may come back to haunt him. Sounds farfetched, and it would have to be a pretty big lie, as the republicans control everything. I don't get it...Clinton gets impeached for not telling the truth about getting oral sex in the oval office, but Bush doesn't get anything for not telling the truth to the American people about going to war, which eventually kills 1100 soldiers.
I guess I had more faith in the people to see past the facade that the administration has contructed. We had a chance to show the world that we could see past the short term and could think critically, but I think the rest of the world is left scratching its head wondering how we could have thought four more years of this guy was a good idea.
Defeating Bush should have been so easy. It's incomprehensible how this dude has another shot at four years.
Well, we'll get what we vote for.

Think of the children!

Today is election day. Please, get out and vote! If you have to stand in line, stand in line. If you're hungry, as Jon Stewart said, "Eat the person in front of you."
I have to work tonight, so I'm happy I won't be able to be glued to the TV. I get home at 1130 and can get the bottom line, without having to wait around as each state's numbers come in.
It's too close to call, but please Kerry, win!! I'm going abroad in a few days, and I don't want to face the people there and defend this country's choice for president. It's embarassing having to defend Bush, but one almost has to, just to defend the country. I might make a T-shirt that says, "Don't blame me, I couldn't vote."
Anyway, go out there and vote!!