Monday, April 21, 2008

working hard to not work

We managed a computer free weekend...no work and lots of play! Working on this project is harder that I think we both anticipated...it is hard to pull yourself away from work with a deadline looming and no content in sight. Working online and in Mexico is pretty awesome but maintaining our focus when there are beaches, restaurants and other fun things nearby make is difficult at times. But all I keep thinking is:
  • in 2.5 months or so we will be free
  • in 2.5 months we will be getting ready to immerse ourselves in Spanish
  • in 2.5 months we won't be working!

Wednesday, April 16, 2008

looking for a cool font?

Is it wrong that I love all these retro fonts?

Tuesday, April 15, 2008

France to ban thinness?

So the French parliament is trying to ban advertising that promotes excessive thinness. Of course the French couture lovers are up in arms about how can a judge rule whether a girl is too skinny or not. It is rather interesting that France, a country renowned for beautiful people, amazing fashion and, of course, its couture shows is one of the first taking a stab at trying to promote a healthier body image to women and men.
I'd like to think this will work though I am not too sure whether the entire fashion industry will bow down and allow regular looking people on the runways and in ads...it would totally remove the amount of power advertising has on all of us if we looked at an ad and thought "I totally look as good as her" and meant it.

one of those days...

It is 10:17am and it has already been one of those days...one of those days where you wake up feeling pretty good --things are going well and maybe you have gotten a few things right....and then WHAM! life bitch-slaps you in the face just to let you know that you've got a lot more crap to wade through and while you are reeling from the smack life whispers "it ain't easy kid...you gonna fight or give up?"

Friday, April 11, 2008

I just want to check it off my list!

Sometimes little things are hard when you aren't living at home...usually the easier the task the harder it is to get it completed in a foreign country. T and I ran out today to rest our eyes from the computer and to get a few errands done:
  • get my wetsuit fixed
  • get laundry done
  • pick up fresh veggies and fruit
  • buy a gift for our nephew
  • send a parcel and some mail

easy right? Hell NO!

Laundry was easy the laundromat wasn't full so we chucked out clothes in and continued on our way ignorantly thinking that everything else would follow suit....sigh we are naive. Anyhow we picked out a hoodie for our nephew and then headed to the DHL outlet which really isn't a DHL but somehow couriered mail is sent and received there. We wanted to send the hoodie right away, we walked in the door and, in shockingly poor Spanish, explained we needed to send it. He told us that you cannot ship clothing out of Mexico. Sigh....we asked why and he mumbled something about terrorists. Ok whatever you say....

We had another small gift to send to Portland, it was teeny maybe 3" x 3" and cost about $10. After a few minutes on the phone and measuring our little package the post guy happily announced it would cost us $550 pesos..that is $55 US. We thanked him but decided that it wasn't worth it. UHHHH I also have some documents that need to get back home but I have decided to forgo messing around in our little town with DHL and will mail it next time I am in La Paz.

As far as getting my wetsuit fixed (since I am trying to learn to surf) we visited the tailor's kiosk about 4 times, each time he was not there. The other customer's told us "Un momento"...a moment puleasse...on the fifth time he was there and promised to get my suit done by tomorrow so all in all going back 5 times was worth it.

So we got some of out list done but now we have a kid-sized hoodie that cannot be sent out and can't be returned....but, on the positive-side, T tried it on. It was very, very tight and perhaps seeing that was worth the $10 and the hassles today.

Thursday, April 10, 2008

Bag Hag?

Though I have always loved clothes and shoes I have never been one to covet designer bags...in fact I think the majority of them (hello Louis Vuitton) are hideous. I cannot believe people fork over thousands of dollars for a fugly brown bag with some initials on it. And what is worse is that I know people who have more than one. Blech.

But I may have met my maker.... Gerard Darel designs are amazing! The 36 hour St. Germain bag in the grey calf skin leather is totally on my covet list! I want one no..I need one. And with a little research I have discovered they have a store in Mexico City....it is so meant to be!

Wednesday, April 9, 2008

frizzled or frazzled....

Sometimes I think I might just be too far behind for all this web technology...SEO, key words, blogging BAHHHH it is enough to make a girl go loopy which is just how I am feeling about the ol' world wide web today. I often wonder how all these super internet entrepreneurs have all the time to blog, twitter, stumbleupon, facebook....frick it took all my might to set up my technorati account though I am still partially unclear about exactly what this will do for me.
sigh...love love love technology

Tuesday, April 8, 2008

who the hell is still buying fannypacks?

While writing a post about poor tourist fashion choices I needed a photo to accompany the article. I really wanted a middle-aged old guy with a big belly sporting the horrendous fannypack. I dare you to type fannypack into google and just see what you come up with...there is a band called Fannypack, people bashing the 'pack' and then companies still manufacturing and selling fannypacks (frick...who knew people are still buying these...must be the same people who are still wearing scrunchies)

But my favourite was this.

Monday, April 7, 2008

a word to the wise

when handling dried chilie peppers with bare hands DON'T rub your nose.

Wednesday, April 2, 2008

gettin' schooled

Since I am constantly worried that my writing is appalling and that my abilities to write a decent post are somewhat lacking I took notice of a colleague's blog where she noted that she was taking a course in writing and I thought..should I? I think the fact that I asked myself this means YES YOU SHOULD! T has been suggesting it for awhile but I think since I'm not sure whether there is a future for me as a writer/blogger I have been reluctant to sign onto anything. But I don't think it could hurt...well, maybe only my pride a little when I get back a few scathing critiques about comma usage or something, but if it doesn't make me drown in a puddle of my own salty tears it will only makes me stronger and (let's hope) a more employable writer.

Here is the school...course are available online. ( I know a few of you who might be interested)

Tuesday, April 1, 2008

yearning for years past

Sigh. My little bro graduates this year...exactly ten years after I left the comforting arms of highschool. I was lucky I think, highschool was a pretty good time for me (well..discounting grade 11 which is a whole other story). But my last year was a pleasure and I think I realized it at the time, at least I hope I did. It was a small class but a really good class. Meh...I am getting all nostalgic when I know my brother would commenting on how old I must be...10 years and all.