Collect Experiences. Not Things. :')

June 26, 2011

Absolutely Exhausting Weekend

Took the day off on Friday to see Barnes Foundation. $25 billion dollars of art in a suburb of Philly, then had dinner in Philly. Strange city. Returned to Newark, waited for the internet man to arrive on Saturday morning. What an obnoxious guy, but he didn't charge me. Run five miles at the gym. Head back to West Jersey for dinner at the Milford Oyster House. Spent the night there, Sunday morning cycled forty miles, then headed to an extended family gathering at Harvest Moon Inn . On the way back to Newark, my car died, completely died. Got a rental car, furiously making last minute plans for Iceland, packing. Work M-W, return rental, then vacation. When I get back, I'll have to deal with the car thingy. Looks like it's time for a new one!

More pics and updates of Iceland later this week. Hopefully, even some under water pics. I hope. I hope.

June 17, 2011

Who Dat?


President Barack Obama greets children at a day care facility adjacent to daughter Sasha's school in Bethesda, Md., following her 4th grade closing ceremony, June 9, 2011.

June 15, 2011

Go to Sleep - Read By Samuel L. Jackson!

"Pulp Fiction" Samuel L. Jackson puts you to sleep. Thank you Samuel.

June 08, 2011

CONE-ING IS THE NEW PLANKING!!!!!

I know what I'm doing this weekend. Looks like fun!

June 05, 2011

6-Day Diving the Highlights of Iceland

Looking forward to this vacation. Not only a well needed break from work, but also looking forward to being out in nature, underwater diving, out of my safety zone, trying something new, the thrill, the adventure. And in a great place to do it. Iceland is covered with spectacular geo-volcanic formations, both on land and underwater.

Itinerary:

1. Day – Hotel pick up in Reykjavik – Ocean Diver Tour

2. Day – Hotel pick up in Reykjavik – Geothermal Hot Spring Dive Tour.

3. Day – Hotel pick up in Reykjavik - Silfra Golden Circle Tour

4. Day – Hotel pick up - Drive to Silfra where we will do 2 dives.

After the dives we will drive up North to our accommodation in Eyjafjorður Accommodation in Guesthouse/Summerhouses in Eyjafjörður

5. Day – We will drive to the recently discovered fresh water fissures near Ásbyrgi, after that we will snorkel in the geothermaly heated river Litlaá. We will visit Europes most powerful waterfall Dettifoss and the area around lake Mývatn.

6. Day - 2 Boat dives in Eyjafjorður – Strýtan the geothermal chimney.

After the dives we will drive back south to Reykjavik

June 04, 2011

Irony-pops!

What's an Irony-pop?

The Next Generation. The conservative 50's, legalization of the birth control pill in 1960, Vietnam War, black civil rights, along with the assassination of a young president created the decade of the sixties and radical hippy movement.

The potential impeachment of a lying president, a decade of a horrendous economy (high gas prices, low growth and inflation) and a wimpy president during the late 70's created the 80's and ultra conservatism movement.

Reagan, the fall of Communism, the rise of Wall Street against the backdrop of Madonna, big hair and leg warmers epitomized the 80's. AIDS and bad corporately owned music assisted.

The 90's were basically none existent except for technology, the PC, Microsoft, the www and a Blow Job. The economy boomed. Albeit, the decade reversed in one day. The day created hundreds of thousand of TSA jobs.

W. Bush was gifted the crisis of a generation. All great presidents are defined by a major crisis, but he blew it. He unwittingly turned 9/11 into a very unpopular war and tried scaring the country with daily threats of terrorist attacks, while the bankers created the biggest housing bubble due to lack of regulation.

Lady Gaga, with the assistance of Obama, introduced the 2nd decade in the new millennium. Together they crushed racism, ignorance and conservatism. Multiculturalism is in. Religion is out. Education is in. Working hard is out. Owning things is out. Irony and making fun of old people are in.

There's isn't a need to create, recycling is enough. Hence the Irony-pops! Scions of Popular Irony.

Been A While

Computer was in the shop. Diving home from Weston MA on Memorial Day, after a weekend filled with fun, food, laughing and lots of draaannkks, I knew my car was on the fritz (speculating transmission issues) but my computer also died when I got home. I washed it with windex and the keyboard stopped functioning. Lucky I have AppleCare and the Apple store is located a short 15 minute walk away. And I back up my hard drive weekly. On Wednesday, AppleCare called said they replaced the keyboard, logic board, USB drives and hard drive. I had no clue why but I basically have a new computer. It took only 20 minutes to reverse my backup and I was good to go!

As for my car, I took it to the garage on Tuesday, in the AM. At noon the mechanic confirmed that it was the transmission and confessed he doesn't repair transmissions. He's old and semi-retired. Like me previously. Anyway, we transferred the car to his friend's garage, where as of Friday afternoon, his friend told me three people (mechanics I assume) have driven the car and they all agree it's NOT the transmission. It's something else, but they don't know what. Some good news in exchange for no news. Entire weekend in CT, but such a beautiful weekend it is.

Weekend plans: 1) Find a local doctor to schedule a physical. My shoulder has been aching for no reason. Possibly just old age, or to much Chinese food, 2) Prepare for Iceland scuba trip. I've been reading a lot about Iceland online and purchased a few additional books, 3) See the Woody Allen "Midnight in Paris" movie. It received some decent reviews. 4) Study some statistics for a work project. 5) Visit the new bike shop around the corner from my house. 6) Research Toyota Priuses online. Perhaps new car time.

Not Tall, Not Grande, but Venti Recession



Most understand we experienced a major recession, but I don't believe most believe how big and how severe it was, and how sever it's trailing aftermath is. Check out more on Calculated Risk. If you're into following the economy and housing market, it's the site to follow.